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The Show

THE HAWAII media guide cover from the 1984 season featured Dave Shoji dressed as a magician, trying to pull a third NCAA Championship trophy out of a hat.

The magic act continues for Shoji, the winningest active coach in Division I women's volleyball. However, he and the Rainbow Wahine may be hard-pressed to duplicate last year's 30-1 ride that has been called everything from unexpected to improbable.

At times, it seemed that the success was all about smoke and mirrors, a chemistry project that somehow produced the right results at the right times. Until match No. 31.

In 1984, the NCAA had only been overseeing women's sports for three years. Only USC (1981) and Hawaii (1982 and '83) had earned titles.

It would take just until 1987 for UH to become the first school to win a third. Shoji -- and the Wahine -- are still waiting on their fourth NCAA banner, fifth overall.

What is often overlooked in the glare of the title hunt is how difficult it is to be successful year in and year out in this sport. Although there hasn't been another championship, Hawaii is known as one of the elite programs in the country.

Consider the 160-13 record since the 2000 season, the three final-four appearances in five years.

Consider that only nine schools -- Hawaii, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Long Beach State, Pacific, Nebraska, Penn State and Texas -- have brought home the NCAA trophy in the past 24 years.

It gets harder every season to advance in the tournament. The players are better. There are more teams with better players. It can come down to the luck -- or non-luck -- of the NCAA draw.

Back in 1984, Shoji knew there had to be some magic involved. The key is to not pull a disappearing act at the wrong time.