Rivalries come and go — Utah State, Pacific, BYU and New Mexico State have faded over the decades — but, for Hawaii volleyball, there has been one constant since the Rainbow Wahine program began: UCLA.

The Wahine and Bruins have played every season since 1974, their first meeting coming in the championship match of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics of Women national tournament. UCLA swept the Alan Kang-coached squad 15-7, 15-9 in Portland, Ore., the Wahine’s only loss in their inaugural season.

It set the stage for what would become decades of intense battles where, more often than not, more than pride was on the line. Consider that Hawaii and UCLA met three consecutive times for the national title from 1974-76, the Bruins taking the banner with them each time.

The teams have traded winning streaks since then. The latest belongs to UCLA which has won three straight heading into Sunday’s finale of the Texaco Invitational.

How even has it been over the past 43 years? The series is tied at 37 with the Wahine holding a 28-25 edge when playing in the islands.

The 75th meeting is special to many and that includes former Hawaii associate head coach Mike Sealy, entering his eighth year as UCLA head coach. The All-American setter for the Bruins considers this his second home — he recently bought a condo in Waikiki — and “I have a ton of friends here who I consider family,” said Sealy, No. 2 on Dave Shoji’s staff from 2006-09.

“I didn’t realize that it’s 35 years in a row. I don’t want to be the guy who busts up that tradition. We play in places that have rowdy crowds but there’s a respect factor here. The people love the game, they respect the game as much as they love their own team.”

UCLA won last year’s Hawaiian Airlines Classic but defending its title wasn’t an option this year because of scheduling. Asked about opening the season this week in Honolulu with two other ranked teams, Sealy said: “The tournament is better than I want it to be with a young team.”

No. 20 Hawaii

(23-6, 15-1 Big West)

The Wahine return a solid core from their Big West championship team, led by starters Emily Maglio, a senior middle, sophomore setter Norene Iosia, senior libero Savanah Kahakai and junior hitter McKenna Granato. Granato (2.90 kps) and Maglio (2.38) ranked 2-3 behind the graduated Nikki Taylor, a second-team All-American opposite who accounted for 490 points and a 4.54 kps average.

Former Rainbow Wahine All-American setter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos makes her head coaching debut Friday. Named the program’s third coach in February, she replaces Shoji, who retired after 42 seasons, four national championships and as No. 2 in all-time victories in Division I women’s volleyball.

The biggest lineup questions for the Wahine are who is the second middle and who steps into the other two pin (outside) positions. The answers likely will be an ongoing audition with a variety of options.

Hawaii advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last season, outlasting USC in five before being swept out of the tournament by Minnesota. Taylor went down with an injury three points into the match against the Gophers.

Marquette

(23-9, 13-5 Big East)

The Golden Eagles, with just one senior, are rebuilding after losing two of their top three point scorers from last year’s team that was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Washington State.

Back for Marquette is junior middle Jenna Rosenthal, (2.3 kps and 1.22 bps) a unanimous preseason All-Big East pick and two-time first-team conference selection. The Golden Eagles’ recruiting class was ranked 21st in the country and fourth-year coach Ryan Theis likely will need to fill key spots at setter and libero left vacant by graduation.

Expected to make an impact is 6-3 freshman middle Elizabeth Off, who had over 1,000 kills during her high school career. During the offseason Marquette lost Taylor Louis, a two-time honorable mention All-American, who had 537 kills and 257 digs as a sophomore last year. She transferred to Iowa where she joins former Golden Eagles coach Bond Shymansky.

No. 13 UCLA

(27-7, 15-5 Pac-12)

The Bruins are as experienced as they are young, with eight returnees and eight newcomers. The seven freshmen comprise the No. 3-ranked recruiting class nationally and includes middle Sabrina Smith, a Campolindo High teammate of Wahine freshman defensive specialist Janelle Gong.

UCLA’s eighth newcomer, Sarah Sponcil, who transferred in the offseason from Loyola Marymount where she was a two-time honorable mention All-American and WCC freshman of the year as an outside hitter for the Lions. She will set for the Bruins with Sealy considering her a Micah Ma’a-type player. Ma’a, a Punahou School graduate, is a hitter-setter for the UCLA men’s team.

Among the veterans for the Bruins is senior hitter Reily Buechler, a preseason All-Pac-12 selection who led the team last season in kills (3.34 kps) and points (3.78 pps). She had 13 double-doubles, including two in the NCAA regional semifinal and final.

One key loss for UCLA was Torrey Van Winden, who joins her sister Adlee at Cal Poly. The younger Van Winden was an all-conference first-team pick as a freshman for the Bruins where she was third on the team in kills (2.87 kps) and fourth in blocks (0.65 bps).

UCLA and Hawaii had one thing in common last season. Both had their seasons ended by Minnesota 3-0 on the Sports Pavilion court in Minneapolis.

No. 22 San Diego

(24-6, 15-3 West Coast)

The Toreros lost their two top kill leaders from their WCC runner-up team but have four players back who averaged as least 2.0 kps including junior hitter Lauren Fuller (2.22 kps) and sophomore hitter Thana Fayad (2.22 kps).

While USD did lose All-American middle Lisa Kramer, the WCC player of the year, the Toreros do return junior middle Abbie Picha, who led the team in blocks (1.07). The Toreros were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Baylor, a 3-2 loss at Pauley Pavilion that prevented a meeting with host UCLA.

That match happens in Friday’s opener at the Stan Sheriff Center. Last year, the Toreros defeated the Bruins for the first time in nine meetings, winning 3-1 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.