Coach Dave Shoji took the occasion of Hawai'i's most lopsided volleyball victory since, well, last week to tweak his lineup last night in the 14th annual Honolulu Advertiser Volleyball Challenge. Senior Jamie Houston, second in the country in kills last year, did not play for the 11th-ranked Rainbow Wahine, who swept Wyoming, 25-15, 25-10, 25-18.

The Cowgirls (0-5) and first-year coach Carrie Yerty, who have just two starters back from last season, remained winless before a Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 5,551. Hawai'i (3-2) pulled above .500 for the first time this season.

They did it with redshirt freshman Stephanie Ferrell playing for Houston and sopho-more Amanda Simmons getting the first start of her collegiate career. Shoji started four underclassmen and only one senior — libero Tara Hittle.

By the third set, with the outcome not in doubt, Ferrell and Hittle were the only starters left and Hittle was getting her first swings, and jumps, of the year at outside hitter.

Houston's hitting percentage this early season is .110. This is only the third match she has missed in four years and the first time in two years she didn't start. Shoji said the sole reason was to get Ferrell more experience.

"I felt it was a good time to get Ferrell and Simmons some reps," Shoji said. "It was all about getting Ferrell as comfortable as we can. She's become first sub for any of the outside frontcourt players. She needed to take some swings on the right and left. She is close to being an everyday player."

Every senior but Houston started the final set. Hittle took off her libero jersey for the first time this season and buried five kills.

"It was awesome," Ferrell said. "It's been so long since she hit I think her legs were really fresh."

Nickie Thomas and Jessica Keefe — who lost three seasons to injury between them — got a another good look in the middle and outside, where Keefe has become a key role player. Stephanie Brandt, last year's starting setter, gave Dani Mafua a breather and Jayme Lee returned to the libero position she owned two years ago. Transfer Catherine Fowler joined Thomas in the middle.

Ferrell never came out. She finished with a team-high 13 kills and three blocks, adding seven digs including a spectacular fisted save while diving away from the net.

"Ferrell is a very good athlete and she's really been working hard on her game," Hittle said. "She's always the first one in the practice gym getting as many reps as she can. She has a lot of power. You should see this kid in the weight room. We run out of weights to stick at the end of the bar."

In the first five minutes it was clear this would not be anything like Thursday night's five-set ordeal against 12th-ranked Minnesota. Hawai'i cranked its first serve in the net and still scored 15 of the first 19 points, Hittle serving eight straight.

"Hawai'i has got a lot of weapons and did a really nice job," Yerty said. "It would be easy for them to float in and out, but they didn't. They've got a lot of leadership on the team. That's why they're ranked No. 11 in the country."

The Cowgirls' offense went first, followed closely by ballhandling. By the time they pulled it together, it was too late for the first set. Kanani Herring picked up where she left off in Thursday's win, slamming six kills in the opening set for UH, which hit .343 on the night.

In the second game, it held Wyoming to the lowest point total since it beat Nevada, 30-7, nearly two years ago. Hawai'i was perfect in sideout opportunities, converting all 11 after it lost the serve.

There was nothing Wyoming could do, or apparently change, to stop the romp. Not that it stopped trying. The Cowgirls, picked to finish eighth in the Mountain West, were scrappy and emotional, even with the result predestined.

To their credit, the Rainbow Wahine were right back at 'em. "Overall, the team played with a lot of energy," Ferrell said. "We were really self-motivated. We didn't play down. That was a big focus."

QUICK SETS: Today, Minnesota will take on Cincinnati at 11 a.m. and Wyoming at 1 p.m. The doubleheader at Stan Sheriff Center will be free. The Challenge concludes tomorrow at 5 p.m. with Hawai'i playing Cincinnati.

A Rainbow Wahine win tomorrow will give them their 12th Challenge championship. They are 39-2 in the tournament.

Nevada sophomore Kylie Harrington, a St. Francis graduate, was named to the all-tournament team at last week's Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational.