Except for the increasingly rabid following, little has changed for Hawaii in the past 12 weeks. The Rainbows are still unbeaten in conference play and still ranked No. 1, as they were after just 5,451 saw them defeat Pepperdine for the first time since 1990, 15-8, 15-9, 15-13.
The Waves, however, are another story heading into the 7 p.m. Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first-round match. This is not the same No. 8 team that was pounded for 90 minutes at the Special Events Arena.
Pepperdine, which has won its last three matches, has morphed into title contender. Handling the setting duties is former Punahou standout J.J. Riley, a sophomore who appeared only in Game 3 during the last match with Hawaii.
Also back is freshman George Roumain, considered the nation's top prep player last season. The 6-6 hitter missed the Rainbow match with a broken hand, but has mended well enough to become his team's No. 2 kill leader. He amassed 49 kills against UC Irvine March 16.
"Obviously, we'll be seeing a real different team this time," said Hawaii coach Mike Wilton. "They've got a new setter in Riley and, with Romaine back, they're real different, huge and dangerous.
"With J.J. in there and more mobile (than former setter Colin Wellman), it means they'll probably be able to set the middle more. They've got two great big middle guys (6-9 Chris Jacobson and 6-8 John Bowling) that if Pepperdine passes well, they can be very effective. It's a real tough first-round match for us."
In other first-round matches Saturday, UCLA (20-5) hosts Pacific (17-9), Long Beach State (21-5) hosts Stanford (15-9) and Cal State Northridge (15-10) travels to UC Santa Barbara (15-7). Should Hawaii defeat Pepperdine, the Rainbows would host the MPSF Tournament next Friday and Saturday, featuring the other three first-round winners.
"My guess is that UCLA will be here playing Long Beach State and we will be playing UC Santa Barbara," said Wilton. "I think Northridge beating Santa Barbara would be a big, big upset.
"The Long Beach-Stanford match should be interesting. Stanford is going to have to have better ball control if they hope to win."
Ball control is what Wilton sees as a key for Pepperdine's upset hopes. The Rainbows, considered the most dangerous serving team in the country, had eight aces and a 23-16 edge in digs against the much taller Waves the last time.
"It was early for both of us when we played each other," said Wilton. "They're different and we've gotten better. The key will be their passing. The game of volleyball changes every year but that's one thing that never changes. You have to pass the ball if you want to run your offense."
Sophomore hitter Naveh Milo, third on the team in kills and second in aces, apparently will be back in the Rainbow offense next season. Wilton said his swing hitter, who was considering turning pro after this season, will return for his junior year.
"It's fabulous news for us," said the fourth-year coach. "He's telling us he's staying and we're very happy about it."
Still in question is whether sophomore All-American Yuval Katz, a candidate for national Player of the Year honors, will also be back. Katz, Milo's beach doubles partner, is hoping for an indoor career in the Japanese pro league and has said he expects to turn pro if the money and playing situation is right.