Wahine set sights on win No. 37

No. 8 is the first par-5 hole golfers encounter on the Ocean South Course, one of three par-5s at the Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach, Calif., and the only one on the front nine of the Tom Fazio-designed layout.

The ocean views are spectacular from seven of the holes with — on a clear day — Santa Catalina Island visible 26 miles away. No. 8 is not one of those, but that was OK with Ashlie Hain on Tuesday when she and the other UC Irvine coaches were working the second annual UCI/Scott Brooks Invitational, a fundraiser for Anteaters athletics.

The third-year UCI volleyball coach had another view in mind, one some 2,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean, but one that she considers as challenging as the 562-yard No. 8, with its tricky pin placement behind a green-side bunker. Her Anteaters (12-1), off to their best start in program history, are looking to make more history — trying to knock off Hawaii for the first time in 37 meetings.

“It’s tough to play at Hawaii,” Hain said, “but the girls are excited. I think battle is the right word because we expect it to be a battle.

“I think we’ll match up better this time. We didn’t when they had Nikki (Taylor, UH’s three-time Big West Player of the Year). We have got to focus on our game, take care of serve-receive. We’re a gritty team that serves the heck out of the ball.”

UCI lost the serve-receive game in its only loss this season. The Anteaters were swept by Louisville at the UNLV Challenge, their third consecutive road tournament, also losing the net game, being outblocked 8-1.

“What we learned is how important preparation is,” Hain said. “We were out of sorts against Louisville. It was uncharacteristic and we know we’re better than that.”

Hain, the starting setter on UCI’s NCAA tournament teams of 2003-04, said she’s looking forward to her first meeting with rookie Rainbow Wahine coach Robyn Ah Mow-Santos.

“I’ve always loved watching Robyn play — she is such a great competitor,” Hain said. “I grew up watching her play (in three Olympics).

“She’s a lot like me, a former setter at the school you are now coaching. We care a lot.”

BIG WEST CONFERENCE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL:

Hawaii (6-5)

The Rainbow Wahine opened the season with a gauntlet of Top 25 teams, falling to all four — two in five-setters — and extending their losing streak against ranked teams to nine dating back to 2015. Hawaii moved above .500 for the first time this year courtesy of back-to-back sweeps of Northern Arizona the first week without a tournament.

The Wahine open their Big West title defense hosting UC Irvine on Friday and UC Davis on Saturday before embarking on their first road trip. Hawaii is the last Division I team to play an away contest.

Senior middle Emily Maglio has been one of the constants for Hawaii and ranks 22nd nationally in blocks (1.48 bps) and 23rd in total blocks (62). Senior libero Savanah Kahakai has moved to No. 7 on the program’s career digs list and has seven matches with double-digit digs. Sophomore setter Norene Iosia has seven double-doubles and leads the team in aces (20).

Cal Poly (11-2)

The Mustangs opened conference play Tuesday with a sweep at UC Davis, again riding the arm of sophomore Torrey Van Winden, who transferred from UCLA to join sister Adlee, the 2015 Big West freshman of the year. Torrey is fourth nationally in points (5.63 pps) and fifth in kills (4.97 kps) while Adlee is 19th nationally in kills (4.46).

Cal Poly, which will play its first home match Friday, features senior setter Taylor Nelson, fourth nationally in assists (12.13 aps). The Mustangs’ signature win was in five against then-No. 23 Wichita State; their two losses were at then-No. 8 Washington and then-No. 14 Oregon, both in straight sets.

Long Beach State (4-10)

The 49ers, off to their worst start in program history (0-10), avoided what would have been one of their most embarrassing defeats when they survived in five at UC Riverside on Tuesday. It was The Beach’s third win in a row.

First-year head coach Joy McKienzie-Fuerbringer, who set the 49ers to the 1993 NCAA title, is having to deal with injuries, offseason transfers and integrating 10 newcomers. She replaced her former coach, Brian Gimmillaro, in early June.

UC Santa Barbara (1-11)

The Gauchos have little going for them outside of Lindsey Ruddins, the conference leader in kills (5.25 cps) who is No. 2 in the country in attack attempts (14.09 aps). But they don’t always have her — the reigning conference freshman of the year has missed four matches with injuries.

UCSB picked up its first win last Saturday, defeating Eastern Kentucky in four at the Pitt Panther Challenge. Junior setter Annie Hasselmann was named all-tournament.

UC Irvine (12-1)

The Anteaters bring a six-match winning streak into the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday. On Monday, junior opposite Harlee Kekauoha became the first player not named Van Winden to earn conference player of the week honors after a dominating performance at the LBSU-UCI Invitational.

Junior hitter Haley DeSales (18) and Kekauoha (15) have the Anteaters leading the Big West in aces (81). UCI has swept its last five matches.

UC Davis (8-6)

The Aggies, spending three of the first four weeks on the road, opened conference play with a 3-1 home loss against Cal Poly. That ended a modest three-match winning streak.

A bright spot for Davis has been junior libero Malia Bolko, who has won the past two conference defensive player of the week awards. Last weekend she had 26 digs against UT Arlington, her fifth consecutive match with 20 or more digs, en route to all-tournament honors; that ended Tuesday when she only had five against the Mustangs.

Cal State Northridge (6-5)

The Matadors opened with a 3-1 win at Cal State Fullerton led by junior hitter Aeryn Owens’ eighth double-double (25 kills-11 digs). Owens ranks 20th nationally in points (5.02 pps) and 22nd in total kills (205).

CSUN picked up the program’s 800th victory on Sept. 2 against Northeastern, the Matadors’ third consecutive win at home. They are 3-5 away from the Matadome.

With the retirement of Hawaii’s Dave Shoji and Gimmillaro at Long Beach State, Jeff Stork (16th season) is the dean of the conference.

UC Riverside (8-5)

The Highlanders couldn’t hold on in Tuesday’s conference opener, losing at home in five to Long Beach State, where they led 12-10 in Set 5. Junior hitter Kaiulani Ahuna (Kamehameha-Hawaii) finished with her fourth double-double (16 kills-16 digs).

UCR’s 7-2 start is the best since 2005’s 11-1 opening. The Highlanders’ 3-2 victory over San Diego State gave them eight wins, matching last year’s total (8-20). They have lost their last three.

Cal State Fullerton (4-9)

The Titans dropped their season opener to visiting Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, unable to capitalize on momentum gained in a 25-9 Set 2 win. It was the first home match since Sept. 2 having spent the previous two weekends in Maryland and Indiana.

Freshman libero Savanna Costello is making a splashy debut with a conference-best 40 digs in a five-set loss to Southern Utah on Sept. 2. She is third in the conference in digs (4.45 dps) and fifth in aces (15).