Far as getting knocked around by top-ranked Nebraska, New Mexico State has been there and learned from it. Only time will tell — another day to be exact — if Hawai'i has come to grips with its lapses in Lincoln last Sunday and the Aggies are up to taking the next step in their volleyball progression.

The Western Athletic Conference powers take their rivalry to the next level tomorrow at Stan Sheriff Center. NMSU flies in today with its football team, fresh off a sweep of San Jose State that took some of the sting off last Thursday's harder-than-it-had-to-be win over Nevada.

The 13th-ranked Aggies (19-3, 10-1 WAC) blew big leads and match points in Games 3 and 4, then overcame a 12-5 deficit in the fifth to finally put down the Wolf Pack. It was the first challenge they had faced since letting six match points get away in a five-game loss to the Rainbow Wahine Sept. 22. Both those matches were in Las Cruces.

"I think that loss bothered everybody to the point where it makes you look in the mirror and say we apparently have to do some things better to beat good teams," NMSU coach Mike Jordan said. "It's become a common thing for this team to let a lot of easy points slip away. ... It's just little things and at the time it's happening, early in the game, you don't think much of it. When it comes back to bite you later you've got to look at changes."

If the Hawai'i loss didn't make an impact, maybe the "Nevada scare woke us up," Jordan theorized. His team has won its last eight and its only losses are to Nebraska, fifth-ranked Texas (which swept Nebraska yesterday) and 11th-ranked Hawai'i. But those little lapses, seemingly benign when they occur, have stayed with Jordan and his team.

He can still re-construct the month-old conclusion of the 23-21 fifth game against UH with startling accuracy — the off-speed shot his team could not catch up to, the match point hit long, the illogical back-row set.

But even the intense Jordan knows tomorrow is the time to let all that go. His team has its highest ranking in history and an attack most opponents would kill for. Amber Simpson (.353) and Kim Oguh (.337) are among the WAC's top three in hitting percentage. Lindsey Yon (4.30) is sixth in kills, for a team with four players averaging at least three a game. The Aggies lead the WAC in every offensive statistic but aces and are sixth nationally in kills and assists.

Tomorrow, Jordan wants his team to tune out the Hawai'i crowd and focus on offense.

"It's easier said than done," he admits. "I thought last year's team got rattled in Hawai'i. We had three aces and 19 service errors. The one game we served well we won. In the others we served terrible and Hawai'i won. That's the name of the game for us. As much as people hype our middles, it comes down to the service line and how well Hawai'i passes. If we can put aside the crowd."

The 'Bows' ballhandling has dramatically improved from last year, with the return of Tara Hittle and first-year players Aneli Cubi-Otineru and Liz Ka'aihue, out of Punahou. All-America hitter Jamie Houston's range has freed Otineru and Ka'aihue to roam and Hawai'i's defense was the difference a month ago against NMSU with 110 digs. "They pulled balls back from the dead," Jordan said.

But Sunday in Lincoln, the 'Bows' passing was sorely lacking. One look at that match tape should give the Aggies a lift.

Jordan believes a win tomorrow would be the next logical step for his team and told them so Monday. The Aggies have played in three of the last four NCAA Tournaments, beaten ranked teams — including the historical upset last season that ended Hawai'i's NCAA-record 132-match conference winning streak — and surged in the poll.

Now, it needs a huge win away from home. "There's another challenge," Jordan said. "Another line in the sand, so to speak."

The Aggies can't wait. The 'Bows are just as anxious, particularly after disappointing themselves so dramatically Sunday.

Then again, the match that really matters might not be for another month, when the WAC Tournament is at NMSU.

"Oh, wow," Jordan said after the teams' first meeting. "I don't know if my heart can handle it. I was riding up in an elevator with a lot of the Hawai'i players and Mike (Sealy). We were all joking about it — if it's going to be like this all the time, we'll have to start taking a vacation before or after. I hope we're both fortunate enough to get to the WAC final because it would be great."

NOTE

UH Alumni Association members can get two tickets for the price of one (maximum of six) to both matches this weekend in celebration of homecoming week. A valid Alumni Association membership card is required when purchasing tickets at the box office in advance or the night of the match.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.