If there was Homecoming Week in volleyball this would be it for Hawai'i, though it has nothing to do with the fourth-ranked Rainbow Wahine.

Nevada, the 'Bows' opponent in tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference match, and San Jose State, here Friday, both have four Hawai'i players on the roster.

The Wolf Pack only has three players from Nevada. Everyone from Hawai'i — junior Kylie Harrington (Saint Francis), sophomore Tatiana Santiago (Kamehameha), and freshmen Kelly Chang (Hawai'i Baptist) and Elissa Ji (Maryknoll) — is "basically starting," according to coach Devin Scruggs. Harrington leads the Pack in kills, attempts, aces and points and just got her fifth double-double.

Scruggs has no plans to stop recruiting here. She and her staff have strong connections with the club coaches, particularly the staffs of Jammers and Asics Rainbow. The WAC connection is also imposing, as is Hawai'i's affinity with Nevada, and relative closeness.

Beyond that, there might be better kids and there are definitely bigger kids, but Hawai'i kids have one unique, and "really important" attribute, according to Scruggs, whose former assistant, Oscar Crespo, now coaches SJSU.

"They have access to volleyball like the rest of the world has access to football and basketball," she said. "They can see it every day. They see UH live all the time. They could probably name the starting lineup at UH right now. I'm not sure a kid in Reno could name our starting lineup. To recruit players with that kind of knowledge ... that's the kind of player I want to have."

Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji, now three wins from his 1,000th victory, has little problem with recruiters raiding his 'hood. The Rainbow Wahine have rarely lost an elite athlete to a Mainland program. Fiona Nepo, who became an All-America setter at Nebraska, is probably the most prominent. Others, like Tamari Miyashiro and Sarah Mason, left because UH was out of scholarships, and Mason transferred back.

Shoji is happy to see players a beat below elite, who would probably have to walk-on here, get the opportunity to play at a DI school.

"We've obviously watched all of them play," he said. "I'm glad they are sought after and get scholarships. I probably wouldn't feel that way if we were offering them scholarships as well."

The Spartans (0-13, 0-3 WAC) will be winless when they meet Hawai'i (13-2, 4-0), which is on a nine-match winning streak. Nevada (5-11, 1-2 WAC) is coming off its first-ever loss to Louisiana Tech. Three players, including all-WAC middle Lindsay Baldwin, stayed home because they are suffering from swine flu.

"One of our best players is not making the trip to play one of the best teams in the country," Scruggs said. "Even at full strength we're not at Hawai'i's level. They are far superior to anybody in our conference.

"We'll have a different lineup and our kids are certainly excited to go back to Hawai'i and play. But for us, what's important is to compete. That is going to be the key for us this week."

Hawai'i is also concentrating on competing, but at warp speed.

"We want to stay in a fast-tempo game," Shoji said. "We have to be fast if we're going to beat the better teams. We're trying to always be fast, uptempo, fast tempo. In order to do that, we've got to pass. We can beat these teams just going with the high ball, but that wouldn't help us."

NOTES

The 'Bows have closed with a flourish lately. In the final sets against Idaho, Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State, the 'Bows hit .640, .667 and .571. They are hitting .306 on the season, fourth-best in the country.

In this week's individual national statistics, UH freshman Brittany Hewitt dropped from first to 10th in blocking (1.48 per set). Amber Kaufman is seventh in hitting (.428) and leads the WAC. Aneli Cubi-Otineru is 11th in aces (0.57) and Dani Mafua 14th in assists (11.53), which also leads the WAC.

Active, reserve and retired members of the military get half off adult tickets (maximum of eight) to Friday's match. A valid military identification card is required.