In a dramatic change of events from a year ago at the Stan Sheriff Center and eight hours earlier on a football field in Logan, Utah, eighth-ranked Hawai'i hammered Utah State, 25-19, 25-14, 25-13 in Western Athletic Conference volleyball tonight.

The Rainbow Wahine (19-3, 12-1 WAC) won their final WAC regular-season match at home in less than 90 minutes, before 4,133 spectators. Last November, the Aggies (9-15, 7-6) shocked the 'Bows here, becoming the first WAC team to win in Hawai'i and sweep UH.

UH senior Jamie Houston continued her recent tear with 13 kills on .500 hitting to lead the 'Bows. Sophomore Stephanie Ferrell had six kills in nine swings in the third set.

Hawai'i lost the first three points of the match, but caught Utah State at 6 as Houston took up where she left off Friday against Nevada. Her offense and Hawai'i's defense eventually put some distance between the 'Bows and USU, which couldn't put two points together again until it was down 19-13.

Houston would finish the set with eight kills — half Hawai'i's total — on .500 hitting. The Aggies had 10 kills total — one more than they would get in a second set where their passing disintegrated and the Rainbow Wahine ripped five aces, including their first three points. Their defense, despite just one block, constantly frustrated Utah State.

Meanwhile, the UH offense became more balanced as it blew to an 18-8 advantage with Amber Kaufman, who had three of the aces, serving six straight.

Those serves started to miss in the third set, but Utah State still struggled to put the ball down, and stop Hawai'i. The 'Bows pounded their way to a 15-8 lead despite missing five serves. Ferrell (front row) and Liz Ka'aihue (back) came in for Aneli Cubi-Otineru in that set. Transfer Catherine Fowler took over for Nickie Thomas, who was 6-for-8, midway through the set.

The Rainbow Wahine leave on their last regular-season road trip Tuesday. They play at Boise State Thursday, Idaho Saturday and Fresno State next Monday. The week they return, they play a non-conference match against Utah Valley Nov. 15. That is preceded by the alumnae match

The WAC Tournament will be played here for the first time. It opens at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 20, with the semifinals the following day and the championship Nov. 23. Hawai'i has reached the championship match every year there has been a tournament, losing the first two years to BYU and winning the rest.

In matches involving ranked teams this weekend, fifth-ranked Stanford swept sixth-ranked Washington; 19th-ranked Pepperdine lost to Saint Mary's and Santa Clara to drop to 4-5 in the West Coast Conference, and; Cal Poly, which plays here Thanksgiving week, was swept by Pacific Friday and fell to UC Davis last night.