WHAT if you held a party and nobody came? Final Four won’t be
a party without ’BowsThat's the predicament facing the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team going into Thursday's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament semifinal against Pepperdine at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.
Win and the Rainbows gain the tournament final against the UCLA-Long Beach State winner. The MPSF champion gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Final Four April 30 and May 2 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The other finalist likely will get the at-large berth.
Lose and the Rainbows can just about kiss their hopes of playing in the Final Four goodbye. Two of the four spots have already been claimed by Princeton and Lewis.
Coach Mike Wilton believes his Rainbows will need to hurdle Pepperdine in order to be considered for an at-large bid. He says that's the "bare minimum."
The Rainbows would be a logical at-large choice if they don't win the MPSF title outright because of their ability to draw the fans. They drew 135,180 fans for a 7,115 average in 19 matches at home this season.
But I wouldn't want to leave that up to the NCAA selection committee. When it comes to at-large bids, it has not been kind to Hawaii over the years.
So it's just win, baby. At least against Pepperdine.
I don't want to bachi the Rainbows by saying that Thursday's match is the most meaningful one of the season. After all, you know how UH teams have fared in meaningful games.
However, I don't know what else you can call it, considering all that is at stake.
Though they came close twice with Yuval Katz, the Rainbow men have never won a national volleyball championship. This season, no team appears invincible. Even current No. 1 UCLA lost to Hawaii, although it was a nonconference game.
And the Rainbows seem to be peaking just in time, having won 10 of their last 11 matches. Wilton says they're playing as well as anybody in the country right now.
So it would be great, all things being equal, to have the home-court advantage with the national title on the line.
Unfortunately, the Rainbows have to face Pepperdine, which seems to have their number this season. The Rainbows had a meltdown as the visiting Waves scored back-to-back victories without losing a game in early March.
So if anything, the pressure is on the Rainbows, not Pepperdine.
They are the ones, after all, who have to host the Final Four. It is at their place. It would be embarrassing if they're not part of the party.
NOT that it hasn't happened before. In 1991, the men's championship was held at Blaisdell Arena and Hawaii wasn't among the four teams. In 1989, when UH hosted the women's Final Four, Long Beach State knocked off the Wahine prior to the NCAA semifinals, reducing them to spectators as well.
So this year's Rainbows have the opportunity to become the first to compete in a Final Four hosted by Hawaii.
Making it would be an artistic and financial success. Figure on both nights being sellouts if the Rainbows are playing. And besides enjoying the home-court advantage, they could win their first national title before the hometown fans.
Even the Wahine -- who have won four national championships -- have never done it at home.
It would be a first of firsts, which would really be something.
Before we all get carried away, though, there's the matter of beating Pepperdine on Thursday.
Anyway you cut it, it is the most meaningful men's volleyball match of the season. That said, let's keep our fingers crossed. Go 'Bows.