Hurricane Gustav canceled matches.

Hurricane Ike canceled practices.

Compared to that, preparing for No. 7 Hawaii is more like dealing with a little rain for Louisiana Tech. The two diametrically opposed volleyball programs in the Western Athletic Conference meet for the first time this season when the rebuilding Lady Techsters (2-7, 0-2) host the potentially revamped Rainbow Wahine (9-2, 2-0) tomorrow (2 p.m. Hawaii time).

An ankle injury to freshman hitter Kanani Herring, the reigning WAC player of the week, had Hawaii making contingency plans during yesterday morning's practice. If Herring has to miss her first start of the season, redshirt freshman Stephanie Ferrell will likely take her place on the outside.

There's also a chance senior libero Tara Hittle would move back to the outside, with sophomore Elizabeth Ka'aihue starting at libero for the first time this year. However, it may not matter who Hawaii puts out on the court against LaTech; the Wahine's seven-match winning streak doesn't appear to be in jeopardy.

“;Our program has so far to go,”; said first-year coach Matt Sonnichsen, the coach at former WAC member Tulsa from 1998 through 2005. “;We have so many things to work on. We have to be concerned about Louisiana Tech volleyball before we start worrying about what is across the net.

“;All I need to know about Hawaii is that Dave Shoji is the coach and Mike Sealy is the assistant. They're going to be good. They'll pass, hit and play with enthusiasm. It's Hawaii volleyball and it's an honor to play them, year in and year out.”;

Sonnichsen and his Golden Hurricane had no success against Hawaii, going 0-12 and taking just one set off the Wahine. He had more success as a setter at UCLA, going 4-2 against the Warriors, fondly recalling the two losses his junior year at Klum Gym.

“;Klum was the toughest place I ever had to play,”; Sonnichsen said. “;It was a huge disadvantage, with the BowZows and the fans right on top of you. I would have loved to have played in the Sheriff Center.

“;But either place ... so many people don't understand what it is to play volleyball in Hawaii. People talk about Penn State and Nebraska, but Hawaii is the volleyball Mecca, with the fans so knowledgeable and the sport treated like it is.”;

As for LaTech volleyball, Sonnichsen knows his work is cut out for him. The sport has limited participation at the high-school level, and is played in pockets scattered across the state.

As with the other Louisiana college programs - such as Tulane and LSU - rosters are filled with out-of-state and international players. The Lady Techsters have no natives of Louisiana on their roster, with players from Brazil and Serbia among their seven newcomers.

Sonnichsen promises his team will be good ... eventually. The hurricanes didn't damage the LaTech campus, but they did affect the team; three matches at LSU and five practice days at home were canceled.

“;Our kids were a little distracted, especially the ones from Texas,”; he said. “;But everybody's healthy. Obviously you have to prioritize, and it reminds you that volleyball is just a game.”;

LaTech opened WAC play last week with two tough losses, in five to Nevada and in four to Fresno State. Last night, LaTech snapped a four-match skid when downing nonconference opponent Northwestern State 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-17.

The Lady Techsters are 0-11 against Hawaii, all but last year's match in the LaTech intramural gym three-and-out.