In a place far, far away from where Hawai'i usually finds itself for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament — home at the Stan Sheriff Center — the sixth-ranked Rainbow Wahine swept Boise State, 25-15, 25-16, 25-17, last night.

The seventh-seeded Broncos (9-19) saw their volleyball postseason begin and end with the 'Bows for the second straight year, along with a crowd of 3,464. Second-seeded Hawai'i (24-3) has won the last 10 WAC championships and 25 consecutive tournament matches going into tonight's 7:30 semifinal against third-seeded Idaho.

The senior-laden Vandals (19-9) are attempting to play their way into their first NCAA Tournament since 2004. The championship is at 3 p.m. Sunday, with that winner getting the WAC's automatic NCAA slot. Top-seeded New Mexico State plays fifth-seeded San Jose State in tonight's 5 p.m. semifinal.

For the first time this season, four Hawai'i hitters had at least 10 kills last night. Every hitter but WAC Player of the Year Jamie Houston hit better than .300, with backup setter Stephanie Brandt playing for the injured Dani Mafua.

"I've known Brandt for a long time and obviously saw her last year," said BSU coach Robin Davis. "The great thing about Brandt is she's just a competitor, a tough competitor, and she's a winner. She can will some things done and her set location seemed good tonight; they were taking pretty healthy swings.

"They hit for a high percentage (.288). It didn't hurt our feelings that Brandt was setting. We think she's a wonderful setter."

Brandt characterized it as a "flashback" to last year when she set UH to another WAC title. Aside from an awful start to the final set — they lost the first eight points, five on stuffs — the 'Bows were balanced and the hitters isolated against single blocks most of the match.

They gathered exceptionally good statistics for a sweep, with Kanani Danielson and Houston getting 12 kills apiece, Amber Kaufman 10, on 14 swings, and Aneli Cubi-Otineru accumulating her fourth double-double of the season (10 kills, 11 digs).

Libero Tara Hittle scooped up 17 of Hawai'i's 51 digs, and out-dug Boise State in the first set, 8 to 5.

Two huge runs with Hittle serving decided the first set. The Rainbow Wahine scored eight in a row to go from the set's fifth tie to a 13-5 lead. The Broncos chipped away, getting as close as 18-15 before Hittle went back to the service line and got the final seven points.

She and Kaufman, whose two aces gave her 44 for the season, attributed their success to assistant coach Ryan Tsuji's location calls. Davis said his team, which tries to use just two passers, "has a hard time with Hawai'i because it can spot locations."

Backup libero Liz Ka'aihue, now the backup setter, was in for the final two points. Her first collegiate set as primary setter was a quick to Kaufman, who buried it. Danielson, named WAC Freshman of the Year Wednesday, had seven kills in the first set — same as Boise State.

In the second set, which was tied at 10, it was Cubi-Otineru carving Boise State up with her serves. She started the set by drilling her first three swings from the right side, then scored seven straight from the back line to put UH ahead 20-11.

The Broncos stuffed all that momentum to start the third set, roaring to a 10-1 advantage. That got the Rainbows' attention and they frantically rallied to catch BSU at 14 and finish it off.

"Hawai'i is very talented and they know they are very talented," Davis said. "So sometimes they have those spins where they give some points away and aren't as focused as they need to be."

Tonight, the 'Bows play the country's fourth-best blocking team, which will put pressure on their passing and hitting.

"I thought our passing was a little loose in Game 1 ...," said UH coach Dave Shoji. "Idaho serves well so we'll have to pass better because they are a bit bigger at the net. If we don't pass well, they're block is pretty good."

Hawai'i's first WAC Tournament home match was a hit with the Rainbow Wahine, who have never hosted this event before. "Now," Hittle said, "the other teams get to see what we go through all the time."

NOTES

Former Rainbow Wahine All-American Deitre Collins-Parker, who was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame last month, was selected yesterday for the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Award, 25 years after finishing her college career. Other selections included football Hall of Famers Steve Young and Darrell Green. Collins-Parker, now the Cornell coach, led Hawai'i to the NCAA championship in 1982 and '83 and was the first volleyball player to win the Broderick Cup, symbolic of the nation's top female collegiate athlete.