"You're never satisfied when you lose," Hawai'i middle blocker Victoria Prince said. "We put about every lineup that we had out there and we still took them to five games. That shows how good our team really is and how much depth we have."

Last night's games were scored using an experimental international format and played to 25 points instead of the regular 30 points.

It was Hawai'i's first match since Dec. 10 when Wisconsin eliminated the Rainbow Wahine in five games at the NCAA regionals in Green Bay, Wis. Hawai'i finished last season 30-1, and Nebraska ended at 30-2.

"I think everyone had a good moment or two, but not enough of them," said Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji, whose team begins its home season Sept. 1. "We would have liked to have won, but I don't think that was the main emphasis. I thought it was entertaining for the most part."

Hawai'i served for the match at 25-24 in Game 4, but couldn't put away Nebraska which scored the next three points on consecutive kills by Pavan and a double block by Dani Mancuso and Melissa Elmer.

In Game 5, Hawai'i fell behind 8-5 but rallied to tie the score at 9. However, Nebraska scored six of the next seven points, including the final two on Mancuso kills.

"We were down two games to one," Pavan said. "We got ourselves together and we pushed for those last three games. That's really a testament to our mental strength."

"Hawai'i's got a nice team and they're hungry," Nebraska coach John Cook said. "We're hungry, too. I thought this was a pretty good volleyball match for March."

Tara Hittle led Hawai'i with 16 kills and Prince added 10. Nebraska's Christina Houghtelling had 15 kills, Mancuso 13, Melissa Elmer 10 and Tracy Stalls 10.

Nebraska had only nine healthy players last night and played seven. Hawai'i played 14 players, including Oregon transfer and Hilo native Sarah Mason and freshman Nickie Thomas. Mason, an outside hitter, had six kills and Thomas, a middle blocker, added four kills and seven blocks.

"I think they add a lot to the mix," Shoji said of Mason and Thomas. "I think that will push all of our outside hitters having Mason as a factor. Thomas has been looking very good at practice. We have four middles who can contribute and it's going to be a battle to see who starts."

The Cornhuskers and Rainbow Wahine returned every starter from last season. The Cornhuskers were the 2004 NCAA Tournament's top seed, and advanced to the regional final before being upset by Southern California.

"I think they may be rated No. 1," said Shoji of Nebraska. "I think we'll be somewhere in the top five. I'd sure would like to see them in the postseason because I know it would be deep into playoffs."

The Cornhuskers had no player shorter than 5-foot-11 and topped out with 6-foot-5 Pavan. They outblocked the Rainbow Wahine, 20.5 to 14.