Christmas comes early this year for the Hawaii volleyball team in the form of bracelets and a match.

The sixth-ranked Rainbow Wahine are to receive Hawaiian bracelets commemorating their 2007 Western Athletic Conference championship prior to tomorrow's 7 p.m. match with Utah Valley.

And Hawaii coach Dave Shoji's gift is the presence of more than two dozen former players competing in the annual alumnae match at 5 p.m. Participants represent all four decades of Wahine success, including  two of the program's top setters: Olympian Robyn Ah Mow-Santos and Martina Cincerova-Vernerova, setter for the 1987 NCAA title team.

“;It's always good to see everybody,”; said Shoji, the Wahine coach since 1975. “;I'm not sure who all is coming back. I'd like to see some of our foreign players we haven't seen in a while, like Angelica Ljungquist (Sweden), but it's a long way to come.”;

Still, some of them have made the trip, including Diana Jessie (1984-87) from New Jersey and Cayley Thurlby (2003-06) from Illinois. Coming the farthest is Cincerova-Vernerova (1985-88), who lives in the Czech Republic.

Yesterday, Cincerova-Vernerova gave an impromptu clinic at Kahuku High when dropping in to see former UH football player Louis Santiago, an assistant football coach for the Red Raiders.

“;It was pretty funny,”; said Deanna “;DeDe”; Dunstone-Angel (1986-88). “;We were just driving around the island, went into the gym. Next thing you know, they ask Martina to set some balls. And she did it in a skirt.”;

UH associate athletic director Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano (1972-75) said about 20 players showed up at Wednesday's practice.

“;I can't tell you how exciting it is to see all four decades represented,”; she said. “;I had six teammates from my time out there and there were other players we haven't seen before (for an alumnae match).

“;And I have to give credit to Teisa Fotu (2004). She was out there at about six months hapai (pregnant).”;

The feature match has Hawaii (22-3) hosting Utah Valley (10-11) for the first time. It's a tournament tune-up for both: The Wahine host the Western Athletic Conference tournament next week, while the Wolverines host the NCAA Division I Independent tournament in Orem.

It's a homecoming of sorts for Utah Valley coach Sam Atoa, who began his volleyball career playing at Brigham Young-Hawaii in the late 1970s. On Wednesday, Atoa's team defeated BYUH 25-13, 22-25, 25-23, 25-23 at Cannon Activities Center.

“;We're glad we were able to schedule them. We did not want to be off this weekend,”; Shoji said. “;We need to stay sharp.

“;They've played a nice schedule, including some other WAC teams, and they're competitive. They've got a good coach. It works out for both of us.”;

The Wolverines are 0-2 against WAC teams this season, getting swept at Utah State and losing in five at Boise State. On Wednesday, Utah Valley was led by sophomore hitter Kayli Broadbent's 13 kills, while junior libero Allyce Wilson set a school single-match record with 34 digs.

Tomorrow is Hawaii's first home match since Nov. 1. Since then, the Wahine picked up three road victories and clinched at least a share of the WAC regular-season title.

“;We just want to go out and play our game, get ready for the WAC tournament and the postseason,”; said senior hitter Jamie Houston, who is 80 kills away from becoming the second Wahine to reach 2,000.