Dave Shoji waited 35 years to win his 1,000th volleyball match. Now the University of Hawai'i coach will have to wait at least three more days.

Trapped in the storm-ravaged Southwest and in danger of being on the wrong end of a memorable win, Louisiana Tech took the safe way out yesterday. The Lady Techsters bailed out of tonight's Western Athletic Conference volleyball match at third-ranked Hawai'i and returned to their Ruston campus when severe weather caused them to miss their flight, and alternates, out of Shreveport, La.

Almost any other time, missing a match with LaTech would mean little. But the anticipation surrounding Shoji's quest to become the second Division I women's college coach to win 1,000 matches gave yesterday morning's announcement added punch. Shoji's record is 999-175-1.

The team found out about it at the end of its 6 a.m. practice, after Shoji took a barrage of calls during drills.

"I know you all baked me a big cake," Shoji told his team with a grin. "So put it in the freezer."

His next opportunity at following UCLA's Andy Banachowski into the 1K club will be Saturday against New Mexico State, the closest thing the Rainbow Wahine have to a rival in the WAC. The LaTech match has been rescheduled for Monday.

Hawai'i (15-2, 6-0 WAC) goes into the NMSU match on an 11-match winning streak. The only set it has lost during the streak came at Las Cruces two weeks ago against the Aggies (10-6, 5-1).

The swap should enhance the excitement quotient. Of the 'Bows' three WAC losses since 1997, the Aggies have delivered two, including a sweep in Manoa last season. LaTech's two WAC wins this year are one more than it had the last three years combined.

Shoji does not believe his team, which features five seniors, will find the hoopla surrounding Saturday's match a distraction.

"We'll be trying to win the match regardless of what's at stake," Shoji said. "I don't think there is any added pressure. We want to win and we know they are good."

Bad weather in northern Louisiana and east Texas stranded the Techsters at the airport in Shreveport, which had nearly 2 inches of rain Monday and is having flash flood warnings and watches. The area has had more than 8› inches of rain this month and is expecting thunderstorms through tomorrow.

Aside from the matches that were canceled after 9-11, this is the only time a team has not been able to make the trip to Hawai'i — in volleyball or any other sport Shoji can remember.

"It's amazing it hasn't happened more with the way the weather is in winter, especially for basketball, not so much volleyball," Shoji said. "I know it's happened at other universities, but it's never happened here before."

UH sold 5,500 tickets for tonight's match. Those who purchased individual game tickets can use it Monday, exchange it for any other match this season — including Saturday's — or get a refund.

Ticket exchanges and refunds must be done at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office. Those planning to use their ticket for Monday's rescheduled match do not need to exchange their ticket.

The school had sold 5,600 tickets for Saturday's match by yesterday afternoon.

The players are planning "something special" for Shoji when he wins No. 1,000. UH is planning a short ceremony after he wins the milestone match and is asking fans to keep the game ticket from that night and show it at one of the next two matches to receive a memento.

The keepsake was Shoji's idea and he plans to pay for it.

"I wanted to thank the people that came out and this is what we came up with," Shoji said. "I wanted to do it, wanted it to be from me. We've got such great, loyal fans I really wanted to give them something from me. They are coming to be part of it. I wanted them to have something they could keep."