Somehow, Hawai'i did more than survive on the road last week. Rainbow Wahine volleyball thrived.

The 'Bows bolted back into the top 10 of the CSTV/AVCA Coaches Top 25 yesterday (at No. 10), for the first time since the preseason poll in August. Hawai'i (20-4) has won 17 of 18 since starting the season 3-3. Its only loss was at Nebraska, which dropped out of the No. 1 position for the first time in 26 polls last week.

UH clinched its 12th Western Athletic Conference regular-season title last week when it swept Nevada and Fresno State on the road. The 'Bows tamed the Wolf Pack and Bulldogs despite getting hit hard by a stomach ailment that ultimately affected more than half of the 18 people in their travel party.

Coach Dave Shoji got so sick after Thursday's win in Reno that he could not get on the plane the next day. He met the team in San Francisco Saturday and flew home.

"I don't know how anybody could have played that had any part of that," Shoji said. "I couldn't even get out of bed in the morning to get on the plane. I was wiped out and a lot of the players were in my situation. They just sucked it up and got on the plane.

"It was bizarre ... I've never been with a group that has been through something like that."

The problem was so widespread — even broadcaster Blaine Kauwe came down with it — that Shoji was interviewed by a county health representative. Four years ago, several Hawai'i juniors and parents came down with norovirus, named after the Norwalk virus, while attending a club tournament in Reno.

Jessica Keefe and Amanda Simmons did not suit up for Thursday's match and Jayme Lee missed Friday's at Fresno, but every other Rainbow Wahine was ready, willing and relatively able both nights — even after their flight out of Reno was delayed. The 'Bows arrived in Fresno 3 hours before the match.

"The coaches were pretty amazed at the effort knowing that almost everybody had been affected," Shoji said. "Their energy level obviously couldn't have been very high, but their fortitude was amazing according to Mike (Sealy) and Kari (Ambrozich). They fought and played their hearts out. That was the amazing part, that they could play so hard and so well."

Jamie Houston was one of the few not feeling sick, and she played so well she was named WAC Player of the Week yesterday, for the fifth time in her career and second this season.

Houston, a third-team All-American last year, averaged more than six kills and three digs a game against Nevada and Fresno State, hitting .309. In her past four matches, she is hitting .377, with 6.17 kills, 3.17 digs and 0.92 blocks. She has raised her season numbers to 5.41 kills, 2.56 digs and 0.77 blocks.

The Rainbow Wahine close out the conference regular season this week with home matches against San Jose State Thursday and Utah State Sunday. Both begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center. The match against USU was moved up from its original time of 8 p.m.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.