After living through volleyball's version of multiple personalities for three months, 13th-ranked University of Hawai'i is hoping it found itself Sunday. The Rainbow Wahine have to finish what they started at Boise State tonight and Idaho Friday.

The four-game victory over 21st-ranked New Mexico State served as payback for the Aggies' win a month earlier in Las Cruces. That loss ended Hawai'i's NCAA-record streak of 132 consecutive wins over conference opponents, constructed over eight years of dominance.

It also ticked off the Rainbow Wahine. They were angry heading into Sunday's rematch, which also served as Senior Night for Cayley Thurlby, Sarah Mason and Kanoe Kamana'o. The Aggies' attitude and their fans, particularly the NMSU baseball team, upset them nearly as much as the loss.

"We were very, very sure of the fact we were going to kick New Mexico's butt," Thurlby said. "The win was not as profound as I would have liked. We really need to progress on this next road trip, too."

It was as profound as anything Hawai'i has shown all season. The Aggies came here with a record so good (29-1) it overshadowed a mediocre schedule. They had the historical win, a lineup full of healthy players and three starting seniors.

And for the first two games, the Rainbow Wahine ripped them while Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji sat in rare and silent awe.

"There was nothing to say," Shoji said. "There were not many adjustments we needed to make the first two games."

The 'Bows got a boost from a dozen missed NMSU serves. But, with their block at its 2006 best, Mason and Jamie Houston spectacular on the outside and freshman libero Jayme Lee anchoring the ballhandling, Hawai'i hardly needed help.

When NMSU rallied to win Game 3, the 'Bows barely blinked. They knew they had this one, and so did New Mexico State coach Mike Jordan.

"We were never in it," he admitted. "We were not emotionally ready to play. I didn't see the look of a caged lion that I saw a few weeks ago at our place. I saw tentative and I saw it from some of our older players. It really bothered me."

Contrast that with Shoji, who saw the level of excellence he envisioned before this season started and long before three starters were lost to injury. His team had looked good before, but never so good for so long.

If the Rainbows can beat Boise (11-15, 4-9 WAC) and Idaho (9-16, 8-5), they will be the No. 1 seed at next week's Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Reno, Nev. From there, they go to the NCAA Tournament. It is a journey they have little control over.

Two years ago, the 'Bows were unbeaten and ranked No. 1, and got sent to Colorado Springs for the first round and Green Bay, Wisc., for the second. Last year, they whacked the WAC and still got sent to Texas for the only sub-regional that featured two top-10 teams. From there, they traveled to Penn State to conclude their second straight 50,000-mile season.

This year Hawai'i will host a regional, but has to find its way home. The seniors spoke of that at length Sunday.

"I don't ever want to leave this gym," Mason said. "Nowhere else you can get this experience."

"We better be back here or I'm going to be a really sad girl," Thurlby said. "There's no doubt in my mind we're going to be back and playing."

They need more anger, along with their elusive block — now capable of defending every hitter in a different way on every serve. And, according to Shoji, "we have to be way more consistent."

Sunday was one giant step. Now comes the leap toward postseason faith.

NOTES

Both road matches will be broadcast live on 1420 AM, starting at 4 p.m. today and 5 p.m. Friday. ... Kanoe Kamana'o needs 50 assists to move up from No. 21 on the NCAA career list to 17.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.