No. 4 Hawai'i opens the 2005 season against preseason No. 1 Nebraska at the AVCA/NACWAA Volleyball Showcase. The Rainbow Wahine are making their fourth appearance in the Volleyball Showcase (previously called the State Farm?™s NACWAA Classic).
Their previous three appearaces came in 1996, 2001 and 2003. Hawai'is has a 3-3 overall record in tournament play. In 1996, Hawai'i won the tournament, defeating Florida and Nebraska. In 2001, UH lost both matches, to Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Rainbow Wahine then hosted the NACWAA in 2003, defeating Kansas State before falling to eventual national champion Southern California in the final.
The Rainbow Wahine have faced the No. 1 team in the AVCA Coaches Poll 18 times since the poll?™s inception in 1982, carrying a record of 7-10 against top-ranked squads. The Rainbow Wahine has lost their last three matches to teams ranked No. 1, including two against Nebraska (Dec. 14, 2000 and Aug. 24, 2001). Hawai'i?™s last win against a top-ranked team came against UCLA on Sept. 4, 2000. Overall, Hawai'i has a 91-72 record against teams ranked in the top 10.
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