Their most compelling habit is winning, which is why they are the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Championships and will host a regional Friday and Saturday. This senior class has gone 128-11 and advanced to two final fours.

With seven seniors, including two first-team All-Americans, the success is easily traced. The origins of some of this team's other traits are less obvious, such as why trainer Renae Shigemura tapes left ankles with regular pre-wrap and right ankles with green pre-wrap.

And, what is that weird dance the starters hop to before every match?

"I really don't know how it started," co-captain Lauren Duggins said. "And I don't even know what the hell it is. But it's brought us luck."

A spectator in Reno described it as "a really bad hokey pokey." The kicking and arm locking give it a "Big Fat Greek Wedding" feel. The "Ole" lyrics evolved from several teams and places as varied as Puerto Rico and the "Bend it Like Beckham" set.

Lily Kahumoku was in on it from the start.

"In the past we'd come together and say we love each other and that's it," Kahumoku says. "This dance represents our coming together and remembering that you have to have fun when you play. Going out there and being fired up and feeling the energy ... jumping around and singing. It lifts you up."

NCAA Volleyball Regionals • Where: Stan Sheriff Center • When: Fridayi5 p.m., No. 7 Georgia Tech (33-3) vs. No. 10 Cal (25-6), followed no earlier than 7 p.m. by No. 2 Hawai'i (34-1) vs. No. 15 Illinois (26-6). Winners play Saturday at 7 p.m. • Radio: Live on 1420 AM • TV: To be announced • Tickets: Two-night packages are $26 lower level and $20 upper level. Tickets for individual nights ($14 for lower, $11 for upper) will go on sale Friday. Approximately 3,000 tickets were available as of yesterday. • Parking: $3

There are two synchronized cheers for blocks and one each for aces and opponents serving into the net.

Each hitter has her own cheer, complete with dance steps. Nohea Tano's "pump-you-up" cheer came from the creative 2-year-old mind and flexing biceps of her son, Koby. Kahumoku's is the "Poi Pounder" and Kim Willoughby's a simple flex. Duggins' goes "Dug, Dug, Dug-a-lug."

For four years, the nucleus of this group has stood in the same place and held the same hands during the national anthem and Hawai'i Pono'i. "If someone forgets," Karin Lundqvist says, "there's always someone to tell them."

For the most part, the order is numerical. The exception is Willoughby, who always stands next to coach Dave Shoji.

"That started when I was a freshman because I didn't know the words to Hawai'i Pono'i," Willoughby recalls. "Jen Carey would tell me. I just stayed there."

QUICK SETS: Illinois, which plays Hawai'i Friday, is making its first Sweet 16 appearance since 1998. The Illini swept Louisville, 30-26, 30-26, 32-30, to reach the regional. Hawai'i defeated Louisville, 30-17, 30-24, 30-18, in the fourth match of the season. ... Senior Lisa Argabright, who leads the Illini in kills, hitting percentage and blocks, was named to the All-Big Ten team along with junior setter Erin Virtue. Illinois' Don Hardin was Coach of the Year. ... The Illini, seeded 15th, tied for second in the Big Ten.