LOS ANGELES » If anyone is having a deja vu moment this week, it's Tara Hittle.

Her first NCAA tournament experience began in Fort Collins, Colo., in the 2004 sub-regional hosted by Colorado State. Hawaii ran its record to 30-0 when sweeping Purdue in a second-round match, with Hittle starting at right-side hitter.

Four seasons and two position changes later, Hittle is returning to her native Colorado, continuing her final NCAA tournament experience in Fort Collins. The senior libero has helped the Wahine again reach the 30-win mark and—again—Hawaii will see Purdue in Moby Arena.

“;It is almost the same situation as my freshman year,”; Hittle said yesterday. “;And we're hoping for the same results against Purdue.

“;They're seeded 10th, so obviously they're a good team. I don't think it's going to be hard to focus on them. Just like we did for USC (on Saturday), that's all we were focused on and there was no mention of moving on until we won.”;

Hawaii remains here until tomorrow when it flies to Denver, then drives to Boulder, Colo., for the night before moving on to Fort Collins Wednesday evening after practice.

Hawaii plans to practice at Colorado. The Buffs, who lost to the Wahine in the 2004 first round, are coached by Pi'i Aiu (Kamehameha '81).

While in Boulder, Hawaii plans to practice at Colorado. The Buffs, who lost to the Wahine in the 2004 first round, are coached by Pi'i Aiu (Kamehameha '81).

Unlike 2004, Colorado State will only serve as host. Unseeded CSU, eliminated at Florida on Saturday, is the lone school out of the four preset regional sites not to advance.

The other host institutions are home: top-seeded Penn State, third-seeded Texas and fifth-seeded Washington. There were few upsets during last week's opening rounds; of the 16 seeds, only Minnesota (6), Saint Louis (13) and Tulane (16) saw their seasons ended.

The reward for upsetting a seeded team? A very tough regional semifinal contest this week.

Michigan, which defeated Saint Louis, meets second seed Nebraska in Seattle; Iowa State's win over Minnesota earned a spot against 11th-seeded Oregon in Austin; and Western Michigan, which vanquished Tulane, faces unbeaten defending national champion Penn State.

Should Hawaii and Stanford both win Friday, the two highest seeds in the regional would play for a final four berth Saturday. It would have been the match most anticipated in 2004; instead the Wahine were upset by Wisconsin in Green Bay, with the Badgers then losing to the Cardinal.

It would also mean a courtside Shoji family reunion. Cobey Shoji is the director of volleyball operations for Stanford, while her brothers Kawika and Erik are on the Cardinal men's volleyball team.

“;We're hoping to see Stanford Saturday,”; Dave Shoji said. “;I'm not looking ahead. If we see them, it means we're in the final.

“;We have to concentrate on Purdue. They're a typical Big Ten team, big and strong. We're focused on one match at a time.”;

Saturday's victory over USC was a bit of a late birthday present for Shoji, who turned 62 last Thursday. It's an early Christmas present for Hittle, who'll be playing only 2 hours north of her hometown.

“;Personally, I'm excited because most of my family couldn't come for senior night,”; Hittle said. “;I guess I get another one at home.”;

Note

In tournament statistics, Hawaii, Washington and Saint Louis are tied for most aces with 26. Rainbow Wahine junior middle Amber Kaufman is tied for third individually with six aces.