Volleyball coaches still like UH

Dave Shoji: UH coach is expected to win WAC for the 13th straight time

In this case, motivation and expectation are one and the same.

For yet another season, the Hawaii women's volleyball team was selected to win the Western Athletic Conference. The Rainbow Wahine yesterday received eight of the nine first-place votes in the coaches polls, worth 64 points.

It came as no surprise to Hawaii coach Dave Shoji, who gave his vote to New Mexico State when not allowed to select his own team.

"I expected to be voted No. 1, I want to be No. 1," Shoji said. "I wouldn't want it any other way. It's an honor, but it also gives us motivation."

FAVORITES Coaches favor Hawaii to win the WAC again in women's volleyball: 1. Hawaii (8) 64 2. New Mexico St. (1) 57 3. Idaho 42 San Jose State 42 5. Utah State 40 6. Nevada 34 7. Boise State 20 8. Fresno State 16 9. Louisiana Tech 9

New Mexico State (57 points) was second, followed by San Jose State and Idaho, tied for third (42). Utah State (40) was picked fifth, with Nevada sixth (34), Boise State seventh (20), Fresno State eighth (16) and Louisiana Tech (9).

Hawaii (27-6, 15-1) has won 12 regular-season WAC titles in a row. The Wahine open with defending NCAA champion Penn State on Aug. 29.

Hawaii, which has won the past eight WAC tournaments, will host it for the first time Nov. 20-23.