A flu outbreak on the Rainbow Wahine team affected eight players this week, including one who was briefly hospitalized, in what Bolla called the worst team illness he's seen in his 20-plus-year coaching career.

The Rainbow Wahine are still recovering from the illness that apparently started on last week's road trip, but many of them yesterday declared themselves ready for tonight's Western Athletic Conference game against visiting San Jose State.

"I'm pretty much better," said starting forward and co-captain Jade Abele who suffered from fever, nausea and other ailments. "I know some of the girls are still a bit tired and still recovering from it. This is going to be a big test."

"This is probably the worst lead-up (week) we've had in my five-year career," Abele said. "It's really going to be a test to see how much we want this win and how much we really dig deep. It's been a tough week for all of us. But we've had two great practices, and (tonight) we'll give it all we got."

Bolla said he planned to substitute many players against the Spartans to keep his team fresh. Bolla said he expects San Jose State to run at every opportunity.

"Getting our stamina back is going to be critical," Bolla said. "It's going to be the players' responsibility to tell us when they get tired."

Abele and co-captain Milia Macfarlane returned to practice Thursday, and reserve post player Tanya Smith returned yesterday.

"Right now, I feel fantabulous," Macfarlane said. "I feel real good."

Starting forward Amy Sanders, who was hospitalized at The Queen's Medical Center on Monday and released later that day, said she'll be available to play.

"I'm a little weak because I haven't been able to eat too much, except for toast," said Sanders, who suffered from dehydration and a variety of other ailments. "I'm just planning to play my hardest for as long as I can."

Barring any setbacks, Bolla said he planned to start forwards Abele (11.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Sanders (11.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg), center Brittany Grice (5.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and guards Macfarlane (7.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and Janevia Taylor (11.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg).

"We're not in game shape," said Bolla, who planned to play as many as 10 or 11 people today. "We didn't practice Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. That kind of hurt us."

The Spartans will be led by freshman post player Amber Jackson (16.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and senior forward Lamisha Augustine, who averaged 23 points and 9.5 rebounds in road wins against Tulsa and Rice last weekend.