Take, for example, matches earlier this season at San Jose State and Nevada, who are here this week to help UH close the WAC regular season.

A victory over the Spartans Friday will clinch Hawai'i's 10th straight conference regular-season title, the last nine since joining the WAC. SJSU did not make it easy two weeks ago, forcing UH into overtime in the first game and winning the third.

Nevada, Saturday's opponent, came closer to beating the 'Bows than any team this year. The Wolf Pack was two points from the most dramatic win in its history in the fourth and fifth games in Reno six weeks ago. It couldn't quite get to match point.

The Pack hasn't lost since, and goes for its 10th consecutive win tomorrow against Boise State. It is 43-23 in the WAC since joining the conference in 2000, and ranked eighth in the West Region this week.

Nevada's most intimidating force is junior middle Salaia Salave'a, averaging five kills and 1ý blocks a game, and hitting .340. The 'Bows bothered her into hitting 300 points below her average last month, but couldn't contain freshman Teal Ericson.

The Pack out-blocked and out-dug UH, aced it 10 times and frustrated left-side hitters Susie Boogaard and Alicia Arnott into 21 hitting errors. It did everything but beat the 'Bows.

San Jose has struggled since it last saw UH, losing its last five. Lately, the Spartans' best offense has been their defense. Sophomore libero Jessie Shull is the WAC Player of the Week after breaking the conference record for digs with 42 — in four games — against Fresno State. She's averaging more than five a game.

The eight WAC Tournament teams are decided, with UTEP and Louisiana Tech eliminated. Hawai'i will be the top seed and probably face SMU in the first round next Friday.

The Rainbows pushed their attendance over 100,000 last week. They have hit six figures every year since moving into Stan Sheriff Center full time in 1995. Their average of 6,940, with eight of the season's top 10 crowds, leads the country. Nebraska remains second, at 4,389.

The homecourt advantage has helped UH to a 197-14 record at SSC and the longest home winning streak in Division I, at 36.

The 'Bows take a few other streaks into the final home weekend of the regular season. They have won their last 101 matches against WAC opponents and last 193 against unranked teams.

NOTES

UH sophomore Kanoe Kamana'o remains seventh nationally in assists per game (13.91). Junior Victoria Prince is 11th in hitting (.407) and 21st in blocking (1.56).

Hawai'i is ninth in assists (15.89), 11th in blocks (3.20) and 15th in kills (16.95) in the national statistics.

Prince broke her own rally-scoring record last week when she collected 10 blocks against Fresno State.

Libero Ashley Watanabe needs 109 digs to tie Teee Williams' single-season UH record of 437, set in 1988. With 4.11 digs per game, Watanabe is on pace to break Kim Willoughby's record of 3.66, set in 2001.

College Sports Television (CSTV), available in Hawai'i only on Oceanic's digital package, will televise all four NCAA Tournament regional championship matches live on Dec. 11. The Green Bay regional final will be shown at 11 a.m. Hawai'i time, followed by the Louisville final (1 p.m.), Minneapolis final (3 p.m.) and Seattle final (5 p.m.).

ESPNews will broadcast the NCAA Tournament selection show live on Nov. 28 at 1:45 p.m. Hawai'i time.