DEFEND, DEFEND, DEFEND ...

        Although it's been 11 years since the WAC tournament was held in Las Vegas, the 1998 championship match left its mark on the NCAA record book. It was—and likely forever will be—the longest in collegiate women's volleyball.
       

Leah Karratti's 23rd kill on Hawaii's 12th match point gave the Rainbow Wahine a 15-12, 21-19, 13-15, 16-18, 24-22 victory over Brigham Young at the MGM Grand Garden. It lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes.

It was the first time in three tournament finals that Hawaii defeated BYU.

While much has changed since then—the Cougars now compete in the Mountain West Conference, rally scoring is in use for all sets—things remain the same for the Wahine. Hawaii has won every WAC tournament championship since that marathon match and puts its nine-title winning streak on the line to start Thanksgiving week. (The tourney took a two-year break in 1999 and 2000).

WAHINE NOTES

        Making that final push: Call them the “;Road Wahine.”; Except for Fresno State (Nov. 6) and Utah State (Nov. 8), Hawaii is on the road for most of November.
       

Given the NCAA's disregard for Hawaii leading the country in attendance since 1995, it's likely that senior night on Nov. 8 will be the aloha night for the entire team. Hawaii learns its postseason fate on Selection Sunday (Nov. 29). The odds of hitting the Megabucks while in Las Vegas are better than those of the Wahine hosting.

Utah State (11-17, 9-7): If they stay healthy—a problem last season—the Aggies could contend for second place in the WAC. They return six starters, includng junior setter Chelsea Fowles and junior libero Christine Morrill.

Coach Grayson DuBose also picked up some height in 6-foot-2 middle Shantell Durrant, a transfer from Washington. and 6-3 freshman hitter Josselyn White.

Hawaii sees Utah State twice in nine days, on senior night Nov. 8 in Honolulu and Nov. 16 in Logan to conclude the regular season.

Boise State (5-11, 9-19): Three weeks after signing his final two recruits in April, coach Robin Davis bolted for an assistant's job at Notre Dame.

New coach Shawn Garus inherits a young team (two seniors) and some new talent, including sophomore setter Breann Nesselhuf, a transfer from Washington State. The Broncos have never finished higher than sixth and will be hard-pressed to make the top six this year.

Idaho (11-5, 19-10): The Vandals lost four seniors from the the third-place WAC team but return two solid senior middles in Anna McKinney and Debbie Pederson.

Coach Debbie Buchanan will rebuild around junior setter Katie Tribley, a reserve the past two years. Senior Sarah Cornwell moves into the L1 position left vacant with the graduation of four-time All-WAC honoree Haley Larsen.