Posted on: Wednesday, October 6, 2004

There may be room at top for UH

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

You don't suppose the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team could, maybe, somehow, end up contending for a national championship before this year is over, do you?

We know, we know. Five weeks ago, with the Rainbow Wahine beginning a massive reconstruction, the suggestion would have been laughable, if not cause for institutionalization. And it remains a reach, perhaps.

But with the rare revolving door spinning atop the USA Today/College Sports Television Top 25 Coaches Poll and the steady ascension of the now fourth-ranked and unbeaten (12-0) Rainbow Wahine, it is becoming food for thought.

For the first time in at least eight years, the top spot in the coaches poll has seen three tenants in the first five weeks of the regular season, an indication of how wide-open the race could be and a situation that is providing inspiration to a lot of schools.

As UH coach Dave Shoji puts it, "it makes it more interesting for everybody. I think there are probably 25 coaches now that think they can still win the national championship."

More to the point, is there now one in Manoa?

"Yes," Shoji said.

"I didn't think that way going in (to the season)," he said. "But the way things have panned out and the way (top) teams are struggling ... it is just gonna take a hot team at the end."

With Sunday's matchup against Texas-El Paso marking the 14th match and halfway point of the regular season, there is, of course, much volleyball still to be played and a lot that must happen. And even more, like a terminal case of complacency or looking too far ahead, to avoid.

Still, two coaches — the American Volleyball Coaches Association, whose members vote and conduct the poll, doesn't name names — apparently don't think it is that wide a stretch. They had the Rainbows atop their ballots this week, which is one more first-place vote than No. 2 Southern California or No. 3 Minnesota had.

Indeed, at this point at least, there is no powerhouse of women's volleyball the way there have been in recent years when Nebraska (34-0 in 2000), Stanford (33-2 in '01) and Southern California (31-1 in '02 and 35-0 in '03) ruled the landscape.

USC began the season at No. 1, but the Trojans, now 8-2, were replaced by Minnesota (14-2), which was overtaken by Washington (12-0) in this week's poll. Who knows what things might look like come December and the playoffs.

As Shoji says, "I'd rather not think about that right now. We've got so much of the season to go, I guess it is a little premature to think about the playoff situation. I think everything would really have to really fall in place — playoffs and everything — for us to think about the final four. I'd rather not think about it right now."

But it doesn't mean that we can't begin to wonder what if ...

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.