Some Hawaii softball players packed heavy for their trip to the Western Athletic Conference tournament, though not out of any assumption about their postseason future.

With the spring semester ending this week, they cleared out their dorms or apartments last week and much of the team will disperse to their hometowns when the season ends.

The Rainbow Wahine hope that moment doesn't arrive for a while more.

The team departed Monday for Las Cruces, N.M., and based on their regular-season performance, the Rainbow Wahine appear in solid position to extend their mainland stay when the NCAA regionals are announced on Sunday.

Even so, “;We do want that automatic,”; UH head coach Bob Coolen said. “;That was our goal.”;

The 21st-ranked Wahine (41-12, 19-1 WAC) will have an extra day to acclimate in New Mexico before beginning their quest for the program's first WAC tournament title. They open tournament play tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. Hawaii time against the winner of today's game between Louisiana Tech and San Jose State.

After a day-long trek to Las Cruces and the players still immersed in final exams, Coolen said the impact of securing the top seed and a first-round bye was “;huge, because (yesterday) everything was slow,”; Coolen said, describing the team's practice at NMSU. “;I think (today) we'll have more energy.”;

Even with the inherent challenges, the Wahine have proven quite adept at playing on the mainland. They went 13-0 in opponent's parks this season and 4-4 in early-season tournaments played at neutral sites.

“;Especially for us, being so far away, it takes a lot out of us to travel and Coach Bob is really organized with it all and makes it a lot easier,”; senior catcher Katie Grimes said.

“;I think we're pretty focused. I think everyone on this team is like we'll be lackadaisical when we can (off the field), but when it's game time everyone is in the zone.”;

In fact, the trip Grimes described as “;by far the most fun I've ever had,”; was a 10-day journey through New Mexico State, Utah State and Boise State last month.

Hawaii began that trip by hitting 13 home runs in a three-game sweep of NMSU on its way to a regular-season total of 128, leaving it six shy of the NCAA's single-season record set by Arizona last year.

While hitters tend to thrive in Las Cruces' dry air, the conditions aren't exactly a pitcher's delight as mistakes tend to leave the park.

“;I just have to be a lot more careful and not leave pitches over the plate that I tend to sometimes”; said UH sophomore Stephanie Ricketts, who enters the tournament at 22-6. “;If I just keep the ball low, it should be fine.”;

UH swept both fourth-seeded Louisiana Tech (26-19, 11-10) and fifth-seeded San Jose State (32-23, 8-13) at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, winning tight games to open the series and opening up offensively in the next two games. Along with UH, second-seeded Fresno State (36-17, 15-6) has a first-round bye and will play third-seeded Boise State (26-30, 13-8) or sixth-seeded NMSU (27-26, 7-14).

The Wahine had a week off since closing the regular season at home against Fresno State. The Bulldogs ended UH's 18-game winning streak with a wild victory in the middle game of the series before UH won the finale on Jessica Iwata's walk-off homer.

Ricketts said the loss, which cost UH a shot at a perfect WAC run, “;renewed that sense of urgency throughout the whole game.”;

For Grimes, a four-year starter, the team's departure on Monday had extra meaning as she bid farewell to the islands. She graduates this semester, but will miss the ceremony on Saturday and will be among those heading home when the team's run ends.

“;Everything's temporary. You have to move on sometime,”; she said. “;Hawaii's been amazing, great people, but it's time for me to move on.”;