LOS ANGELES » When it comes to real estate, it's “;location, location, location.”;

When it comes to volleyball, it's “;connection, connection, connection.”;

Especially here in this week's NCAA subregional hosted by Southern Cal. There's no such thing as six degrees of separation; it's more like one.

Consider that:

» While in high school in Minnesota, Hawaii associate coach Kari Anderson Ambrozich played club ball for New Mexico coach Jeff Nelson.

» While in high school in Los Angeles, Hawaii sophomore hitter Stephanie Ferrell played club ball for USC coach Mick Haley's wife, Carrie.

» Rainbow Wahine sophomore hitter Corinne Cascioppo originally committed to USC while in high school.

» Both USC and Oklahoma advanced to the regional hosted by Hawaii in 2006, with the Sooners losing to UCLA and the Bruins then eliminating the Rainbow Wahine.

» When Hawaii and Texas met for the NCAA title in 1988, it was the first time that at least one California school wasn't playing for the championship. The coaches? Shoji (Hawaii) and Haley (Texas).

» And, of course, for the second year in a row, Hawaii begins the postseason at USC with the potential of another second-round match-up between the Wahine and Trojans.

The last item came as a surprise to Haley.

“;We had no indication that we'd host,”; he said. “;When you look at the bracket, it's hard to figure the criteria for the RPI.

“;But you go through the season with the idea that you have to be prepared for anybody. There were bleak times during our season when our kids lost confidence. We are just happy that we got into the tournament. And, as Tarzan once said, if given the choice of where to fight, you want the enemy to come to you.”;

Neither Haley nor Shoji is looking ahead to a potential meeting tomorrow. The “;one and done”; reality has the two veteran coaches focused on their respective opponents today.

“;I saw Oklahoma nearly beat Nebraska,”; Haley said. “;They are very similar to Hawaii and I would think that an Oklahoma-Hawaii match would be pretty exciting, but I don't want that to happen, of course.”;

Hawaii swept USC at the Galen Center last year, 25-21, 25-18, 25-22. It was the second time in three years that the Women of Troy had their season ended by the Wahine; Hawaii outlasted USC in five in the 2006 regional semifinal.

“;USC basically has the same team as last year, except for a new setter, and runs the same offense,”; Shoji said. “;I think they're better than last year and I think we're way better than last year.

“;But we both have business to take care of before we can talk about seeing each other.”;

Nelson said he'd like to become part of the conversation. In his third year at New Mexico, he has the Lobos back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1994.

“;All of our student-athletes have worked very hard to get New Mexico back on the volleyball map,”; Nelson said. “;We're excited to be in this group with some of the most storied programs in NCAA volleyball.

“;I look forward to playing Dave and the Hawaii volleyball team. I have the utmost respect for their program. My Texas Tech team played at Hawaii in the (2000) subregional and it was a great experience.”;

And another connection.