It might not have been such a bad choice, according to Wahine coach Dave Shoji. He remembered all too well how much pressure there was in 1989 for his team to make it back home to Blaisdell Arena for the final four.
Long Beach State spoiled Hawaii's homecoming, denying co-national player of the year Teee Williams a shot at her second championship in three years. Little did anyone realize then that it would take another eight years for Hawaii to get this far again.
"It's somewhat of a burden to have the championship at your home site," said Shoji, whose team takes on top-ranked Florida in today's semifinal at 1 p.m. "Plus, if you host the final four, you don't get a regional. The positive of having the regional at home is having a springboard to get here. It gave our team a place to shoot for, something to focus on. As a coach, I'd rather have a regional."
Hawaii will be the host team for the final four in 1999. By that time, the tournament field may be expanded to 64 teams. The women's volleyball committee this year voted to expand from 48 to 56 teams, beginning next year.
"We could have probably gone to 64 next year, but the committee thought that might be too many to bring in all at once," said UH assistant athletic director Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano, a member of the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Committee. "I think it was a good decision."
The NCAA requires that 95 percent of Division I institutions sponsor a particular sport before a 64-team tournament can be held.
"The tournament expanding provides more opportunities for teams in our sport and lets more teams experience what it's like to play in the NCAA tournament," said Florida coach Mary Wise. "Whether it's by hosting a match, playing one on the road, this gives more teams opportunities to create interest in the sport."
Teee Williams still has the most total attempts in one match with 99. That came against Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo in 1989.
Hawaii also is part of team records, including most service aces, one match (15 vs. Stanford, 1982 semifinal); most aces, semifinal and final (26, 1982); and most kills, semifinal and final (189, 1982). The Wahine also have the marks for most total attempts, semifinal and final (509, 1982); most block solos in a tournament (35, 1983); and most block solos, one match (Hawaii and Kentucky combined for 25 in 1983).
Next year's final four will be at Spokane, hosted by Washington State. Wisconsin will host the 1998 event at Madison.
TV Hawaii vs. Florida, 1 p.m.; Nebraska vs. Stanford, approximately 3:30 p.m. Live on ESPN2. Hawaii match will be rebroadcast at 8 p.m. today on ESPN.