After the euphoria of Senior Night wore off, it was only logical that the home of college volleyball's biggest crowds wonder why it won't see its Rainbow Wahine in person again for nearly 10 months. If Hawai'i, which opens its final regular-season road trip of the year tonight at Boise State, is ranked third and has won 19 in a row, why shouldn't it be home for the NCAA Tournament?

The answer is not simple. Literally, the 'Bows could be back to host a subregional in three weeks. Logically, the chances of that happening are slim and none and slim leaves the building if Hawai'i loses between now and the WAC Tournament championship in Las Vegas.

Since the tragedy of 9-11, the NCAA volleyball committee has mandated: "When selecting sites for the first and second rounds, sites will be selected that create the least number of flights." Beyond that, "Once all the minimum criteria have been met, the committee will consider geographic proximity and seeding in assigning sites." The top 16 teams are seeded and "may host if it does not create additional flights."

Where that has left Hawai'i is the middle of the ocean. No team can drive here, so unless the Rainbow Wahine are grouped with three first-round opponents so diverse geographically it is not feasible for any of them to drive to another's campus, the 'Bows are gone. UH associate AD Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, who used to be on the NCAA committee, said she once figured Hawai'i's odds of hosting at "less than 20 percent."

UH travels like no one in its sport. Including four regionals, Hawai'i has traveled more than 210,000 miles the last five years. They will be at 27,313 and counting before they even find out where they play in this year's NCAA Tournament.

In the last five years they have played subregionals in frigid Fort Collins, Colo., followed by Austin, Texas, Long Beach, Calif., Louisville, Ky., and Los Angeles, which felt like a commuter flight.

Other seeded teams have been sent packing, but UH has the distinction of being the only one to get booted each of the past five years. Penn State, USC and Florida have hosted subregionals each of the past six years and Nebraska, Stanford and UCLA have hosted five times in that period.

UH has put in what it calls "an aggressive bid" to host the NCAA's first and second rounds Dec. 3 and 4. Based on crowds of 6,000 each night — 423 less than it averaged during the regular season — UH guarantees the NCAA a profit of $105,000, along with $89 hotel room rates.

It is an attractive deal for everyone involved. With just minimum attendance, UH clears about $35,000. Opposing teams are ecstatic at the thought of a playoff in paradise. Hawai'i volleyball fans get the one gift, beyond a national championship, they truly desire and deserve.

The Rainbow Wahine get all their rare comforts of home, and avoid huge gaps in class time and the physical drain of constant travel, which sucked the volleyball life out of them last year.

But it's not about money or loyal fans or keeping the 'Bows' five academic all-WAC seniors in class and off red-eye flights. "Geographic proximity" is the priority and that hurts Hawai'i coming and going. With 2,400 miles of ocean between Mänoa and the nearest college, not only is no opponent close, but since the 'Bows can't drive to any subregional, the committee can send them anywhere. Why not Green Bay or Penn State regionals?

"I always thought hosting was a reward for having good season," UH coach Dave Shoji says. "The highest seed usually gets homecourt for the first and second round. So that would be fair to give us a first- and second-round game. Most top seeds will get a home game. I don't see how we can't be in the Top 16. I don't see how we're not a top four team. The only thing holding us back is RPI."

Don't even bring that up around the 23-2 Rainbow Wahine. In this week's NCAA power rating, they are 21st. Their only losses are to Texas, No. 1 in the RPI, and Cal, now No. 6 with eight losses. UCLA and Stanford, teams Hawai'i swept, are Nos. 8 and 9.

The committee's reliance on the RPI has been a mystery in the past and based on the numbers now it is easy to see why. In contrast, its geographic concerns have been constant. And Hawai'i has yet another problem this year because football is home subregional week, which means its bid is for Thursday and Friday. Visiting teams might have to leave Monday — the day after the field is announced — to get here.

Note: Tonight's match from Boise and Monday's match from Utah State will be broadcast live on ESPN 1420 AM, beginning at 4 p.m. Hawai'i time. Saturday's match from Idaho will not be on because of UH football.