Failure to follow NCAA - and University of Hawaii - guidelines will result in infractions. Such is the case with Rainbow volleyball players Naveh Milo and Sivan Leoni, who have been suspended by UH for two matches after allowing three boosters to buy them dinner.

"The boys knew they shouldn't go out but, after being called numerous times, they finally said yes," Hawaii coach Mike Wilton said. "Afterward, the boosters reflected on their actions and realized they probably were in the wrong."

The violation of the "special benefit" rule has been reported to the NCAA, said Kaia Hedlund, UH assistant athletics director for student services. She feels no further penalty will be incured.

The institutional punishment means Milo, a junior hitter, and Leoni, a junior blocker, will sit out the Nov. 8

intrasquad scrimmage on Maui and the first of two matches against Stanford, scheduled for November on Kauai. The two also had to write a letter of apology to the three boosters and had to pay back the money spent on dinner.

"Their eligibility has been restored, based on our internal investigation," Hedlund said. "It's a very innocent thing because our kids know the rules. The ladies said they knew the rules, too, and the kids did question it before finally going out.

"What the public has to understand is that these athletes are sitting out because of something people who are supportive of the program did without really knowing the rules. The problem is, athletes aren't just like everyone else."

The infraction falls under the extra benefit/special arrangement rule for student-athletes, their friends and relatives. Among the no-nos are:

Special discount, payment arrangement, or credit on purchases or services;

Loan of money;

Use of automobile;

Purchase of meals.

Over the summer, Milo, Leoni and Yuval Katz had their names and pictures used for promotional purposes in Honolulu newspaper advertisements for a volleyball camp. That use was against NCAA regulations but the three members of Hawaii's NCAA runner-up team have been cleared of any wrongdoing.