Compromise and adjustment, that's what it comes down to.

Some hitters like their sets high, others prefer them low.

But this ain't elementary school kickball, where you tell the pitcher low-and-fast or high-and-bouncy and your order is filled like at the Jack In The Box drive-through.

Different setters are more effective with different sets, and always at the mercy of the passes they get.

In the WAC volleyball championship final yesterday, the Hawaii hitters took what they got and made the best of it—from the team's backup setter.

Stephanie Brandt, however, is not your typical benchee. For those with short memories, this is the second time in two years Brandt has steered the Rainbow Wahine to the conference tournament crown. She was the 2007 starter.

This time she did it on short notice, replacing hamstring-hobbled Dani Mafua at the controls just a week ago, right before the tourney.

So no pressure, right? Been there, won that.

Not necessarily. We all know about how a boisterous Stan Sheriff Center crowd is worth at least a couple of points to the Wahine. But Brandt made an interesting point after yesterday's match: Even when you're the home team setter here, a big part of your job is remaining calm and composed amid the cacophony and chaos.

“;Me personally, I just had to get mentally prepared, I hadn't served in front of the home crowd in a while and the crowd can be a factor,”; she said. “;You have to focus on your own game.”;

Not that she doesn't appreciate it.

“;There's a lot of excitement playing in front of our crowd. You just don't ever want to relax and let them down.”;

UH coach Dave Shoji said he saw New Mexico State's “;spirit die”; yesterday. Good thing Brandt's didn't when she lost her starting spot in camp. A strong backup setter is like a good No. 2 quarterback—a rare commodity, yet often fragile.

“;Obviously, I was a little disappointed, but I wasn't about to quit,”; said Brandt, who also started as a freshman at UC Santa Barbara. “;I was OK—I got to play every match (this season), whether it was serve or defense. It made me feel like I was still part of the team.”;

Still, there's a big difference from riding the bus to driving it, even when you've done it before.

It looked like a seamless transition yesterday. Jamie Houston said she prefers a high set, and she launched 22 kills in the final, on her way to tourney MVP. Kanani Danielson prefers it low ... if can.

“;For me, it's what the setter can dish out, it's all good,”; she said. “;I like a faster ball, but it's whatever the pass gives her. I'm a passer too, so I need to do my best to give her the good pass. Whoever's there it's up to us hitters to adjust. She's going to compromise, but at the same time we've got to get our feet to the ball.”;

The players, for public consumption, say it ultimately doesn't matter. Some of the fans will debate it forever.

“;Dani has a little more offense, Stephanie's less predictable, a little harder to read,”; New Mexico State coach Mike Jordan said. “;Dave talked about tempo, but I don't think it made that much difference.

“;Both are good,”; Jordan said. “;They can win with either.”;

And that's all that really matters, right?