Hawaii picked to
capture the WAC

No. 1?

No surprise.

Even with three new members changing the face of the Western Athletic Conference, nothing has changed when it comes to women's volleyball.

Hawaii is again the clear favorite to win the WAC regular-season title for a 10th consecutive season.

The Rainbow Wahine received all eight of the possible votes -- UH coach Dave Shoji cannot vote for his team -- for 64 points. Shoji's vote went to Nevada, which was picked No. 2 with 57 points.

"What it says is that the new members of the conference are behind us," Shoji said in a telephone call from Louisville, Ky., last night. "I think Nevada will be stronger than even last season. The middle of the pack is much stronger than last year and one or two of the new teams will challenge us.

"I think it's a much stronger conference than last year. We'll have to meet the challenge."

The three newcomers -- Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State -- debuted as the Nos. 3-5 teams in the pool. They were followed by Boise State, San Jose State, Fresno State and Louisiana Tech.

"I didn't exactly rank the rest like that," said Shoji, who is watching his son Kawika play at the USA Volleyball Boys Junior Olympic Tournament. "I think San Jose State will be stronger than the predictions."

Hawaii returns all seven starters from a team that went 30-1, losing in the semifinals of the NCAA Regional at Green Bay, Wis. The Wahine went undefeated in WAC play (13-0), just the 14th time a team had gone undefeated in the regular season in NCAA history, and went on to capture the WAC tournament title for a fifth time.

Hawaii also has the longest current conference winning streak in the country at 91. When asked if this could be the year the streak ends, Shoji said, "It's always a possibility."

Hawaii opens the season at the AVCA/NACWAA Showcase in Omaha, Neb., against Nebraska on Aug. 26.

Back for the Wahine are All-Americans Kanoe Kamana'o at setter and middle Victoria Prince, as well as All-WAC selections Alicia Arnott, Susie Boogaard, Ashley Watanabe, Tara Hittle and Juliana Sanders.