Wahine take a hit in volleyball ranks | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

DARRELL MIHO / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER

Hawaii’s McKenna Granato extended for a pass against Long Beach State at the Walter Pyramid on Saturday. She finished with 10 kills and 17 digs. The Rainbow Wahine lost the match to the 49ers in five sets.

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It was a double drop for Hawaii on Monday, with the Rainbow Wahine falling in both the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Ratings Percentage Index and the AVCA Coaches Top 25.

Hawaii (12-5, 5-1 Big West) went from 21 in last week’s initial RPI to 31, and from No. 12 to No. 17 in the coaches poll. Both had been anticipated after the Wahine lost their first conference match at Long Beach State on Saturday; the 49ers were at 51 in the RPI and remain unranked.

Hurting both Hawaii and Long Beach State are the RPIs of the rest of the Big West teams. The Wahine swept Cal State Northridge (RPI 123) on Thursday and the 49ers won in four at UC Riverside (270) on Wednesday.

The RPI, a computer-generated ranking based on a team’s record and its strength of schedule, is used to help seed teams in the postseason tournament. The top 16 in the RPI have the opportunity to host the first and second rounds if they put in a bid to host.

The formula uses winning percentage (25 percent), opponents’ winning percentage (50 percent) and the winning percentage of opponents’ opponents (25 percent). It also gives bonuses and penalties for wins over top-50 teams and losses to teams ranked 285-309 in the first RPI.

Hawaii’s RPI is being helped by Wisconsin (14-1), which remained at No. 1 in the RPI. The Badgers, who defeated the Wahine in the season opener, are one of five Big Ten teams in the top 10 of the RPI.

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The RPI of Hawaii’s other nonconference losses are: 11 (Washington), 16 (Kansas State) and 20 (UCLA). The Wahine have wins over Arizona (29), Pacific (60), Northern Illinois (71), Missouri State (74), Pepperdine (117) and Utah Valley (155).

The RPI of the other Big West teams are: 46 (Cal Poly), 53 (UC Santa Barbara), 119 (Cal State Northridge), 130 (UC Davis), 146 (UC Irvine), 266 (Cal State Fullerton) and 282 (UC Riverside).

As for the Top 25, Wisconsin replaced Minnesota (13-2) at No. 1, receiving 50 first-place votes. Nebraska (14-1) also moved up a spot, to No. 2, receiving the remaining 14 votes.

Minnesota fell two spots to No. 3, with Texas (13-2), San Diego (15-2) and Kansas (15-2) staying at 4, 5 and 6. Moving up a spot were Washington (14-2) to No. 7 and North Carolina (14-2) to No. 8.

Rounding out the top 10 are Florida (15-2) and Penn State (14-3). BYU is No. 11, while Stanford (10-4) fell five places to No. 12 after losing at home in four to Utah, the Utes’ first ever win in Maples Pavilion.

Hawaii returns to the Stan Sheriff Center with conference matches with UC Irvine on Friday and UC Davis on Sunday.