If it was a year ago, that lost weekend the fourth-ranked Rainbow Wahine just suffered through at the AVCA/NACWAA College Volleyball Showcase might not have been so startling. Even this season, opening with losses to top-ranked Nebraska and fifth-ranked Penn State does not have to be devastating.

What was disturbing was how Hawai'i lost. The most endearing and enduring trait of the 2004 team was its remarkable resilience. That quality was conspicuous by its absence in front of huge crowds and a national TV audience in Omaha, Neb.

The 'Bows' pride and health took a beating against the 'Huskers, who became the first host team to win the NACWAA in its 11-year history. UH was never in its opener, even before Sarah Mason — starting for Tara Hittle — went down with the same injury (sprained ankle) Hittle suffered in preseason practice.

Saturday, Hawai'i had all kinds of chances in the first two games against the Nittany Lions and fumbled each one before fading fast in the third.

Technically, the passing of Susie Boogaard and Ashley Watanabe dramatically improved Saturday. That only made it more obvious that UH was short a passer — a role freshman Jamie Houston, in for Hittle and Mason, can't fill yet.

At the net, the huge 'Huskers abused 'Bow blockers Friday. When it happened again Saturday — Penn State hit 36 points higher than UN — size could no longer be used as an excuse. The Hawai'i roof had leaks everywhere. Opposing hitters took 255 swings at the Showcase and the Rainbows rejected but 14, slowing only a few more.

These were nearly all the same players as last year. But these were not the Cardiac Keiki that caught imaginations early and took Hawai'i for a thrilling ride.

"We lost that fire in our eyes, lost that 'not settling' and do-or-die desire," said co-captain Cayley Thurlby. "This tournament wasn't do or die but you should play every game like it is. You should be flying around. That's Hawai'i volleyball, that's what we're all about, and I think we lost sight of that over this weekend.

"We got caught up in the hype of we're number whatever and what are they ranked ... it's not about that. It's about what's happening right then. I think our team will bounce back. I have a world of confidence in our ability and mental strength, but it's not going to be easy. We're going to ask a lot from each other."

To challenge for a national championship, which is the natural progression from last season, the Rainbow Wahine will have to ask much more of themselves this week. They open the 18th annual Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic against seventh-ranked Southern California on Thursday, then get a replay against Penn State on Friday.

There is no time to waste, and no reason to waste all they learned — the hard way — last week. This tournament might be more definitive than the last. Hawai'i is now home for a month, but it only has three days to figure all that went wrong.

Coach Dave Shoji's goals are realistic, particularly as he waits to see if Hittle and/or Mason will be available. While he warns no one should "bury us yet," his short-term goals are uncharacteristically low.

"We've lost six straight (games)," Shoji said Saturday. "It's going to be a battle to win even one game, even next week. We've got to take mini steps to get over the hump — win a game."

What's missing? Hittle and Mason are most obvious, with Shoji now coveting their ballhandling and blocking more than offense. His team also clearly misses the "steadying influence" of Melody Eckmier and Teisa Fotu, last year's seniors. Their unique talents — Eckmier was UH's DB (designated blocker) and Fotu's versatility made her a trusted reserve at every position — were also sorely missed.

A week ago, their value was all but dismissed. But in Omaha, the Rainbow Wahine looked nothing like last year's precocious bunch of overachievers, who won six five-game matches and couldn't be stopped until Wisconsin finally outlasted them 21-19 in the fifth at a regional.

"Our team fell apart," Thurlby said flatly. "I felt like we could have been more supportive all around. More supportive on the court and there could have been more support from the bench at different times instead of frustration. Which is really hard. It's a part of growing up."

The Rainbow Wahine have come back from much worse. Shoji is sure they can again, and he's not alone.

"I'm sensitive to the fact that Hawai'i is missing some of its key offensive players," Penn State coach Russ Rose said Saturday. "We'll see a different Hawai'i in an entirely different atmosphere in less than a week."

Plenty of people here hope he is right.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.