The 11th-ranked University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team has little margin for error if it wants to advance to its 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament.

Hawai'i won't be a shoo-in for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth this season, according to coach Dave Shoji, and that's why the team's five-game Western Athletic Conference comeback victory at New Mexico State last Saturday was so important.

"I think a loss would have hurt our chances," said Shoji, who told a reporter after the match, "our season was pretty much hanging in the balance," and that he was "really, really proud" of his players.

Hawai'i has advanced to 13 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and won 109 conference matches in a row dating back to Oct. 10, 1998. It will seek to continue those streaks when it hosts WAC opponents Fresno State tomorrow and Nevada Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

This season, Hawai'i (9-6 overall, 3-0 WAC) has looked brilliant, beating No. 10 UCLA and No. 7 USC, but vulnerable at times, losing in five games to visiting Loyola Marymount. That loss ended Hawai'i's 205-match winning streak against unranked opponents.

Five of Hawai'i's six losses have come against teams ranked in the top 5.

"I don't blame people who doubt us right now," said Shoji, whose team returned every starter from last season's 30-1 squad. "We've played up and down. We've been inconsistent. But I think every one of our players still thinks we are going to be a good team, and we are a good team. They fully expect to win the WAC, go to the NCAAs, and go deep into the tournament."

Hawai'i can advance to the NCAA Tournament with an at-large berth, or by winning the WAC Tournament and earning the automatic berth.

"I'm not sure how big wins against UCLA and USC are this year," Shoji said of the team's NCAA Tournament chances. "I'm not sure how the NCAA will view us. It depends kind of on our conference (power rankings). I don't think that it's a slam dunk that we're in."

Solutions on how to fix the Rainbow Wahine come nonstop these days. Some people have written letters to the newspaper, and others, such as former player Heather Bown, believe the team is too passive and the coaches too nice. Even Shoji has received "many" suggestions from the public in personal e-mail and letters this season.

"There's a lot of people who think they know what our problem is," said Shoji, who reads the letters and e-mail he receives, but does not respond because it would take too much time. "I think only in Hawai'i does this happen — that people are passionate enough about the game to write or e-mail me about how we can turn the season around, how we can be better."

Senior libero Ashley Watanabe said Hawai'i supporters have been wonderful this season, and was quick to add that she hasn't felt "the wrath."

"I've never noticed the differences in their support because they have been so consistent," Watanabe said. "I love our fans. They're just loyal."

Senior middle hitter Victoria Prince called the comeback victory at first-year WAC member New Mexico State the season's turning point. Hawai'i lost the first two games in Las Cruces, N.M., but rallied to win the final three for its first five-game victory this season. Hawai'i won six five-game matches last season.

"I'm sure people who listened on the radio — when we were down 0-2 — they were like, 'Oh no, this can't be happening!' " Prince said. "We're getting all the bad stuff out of the way now, so when we get into December, we won't be making the mistakes we're making now."

Hawai'i's upcoming opponent, Fresno State (2-11, 0-3), has lost its last 10 matches and has struggled to find chemistry this season under first-year head coach Ruben Nieves. The former Stanford men's coach replaced 14-year coach and Punahou graduate Lindy Vivas in January.

According to a Sept. 24 online report from The Fresno Bee newspaper, Nieves removed senior and Iolani graduate La'akea Campbell from the team on Sept. 19 because of what he deemed to be shortfalls in effort and team attitude. Two of Campbell's roommates, sophomores Mounia Nihipali, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, and Ilima Sam Fong, from Utah, lost their starting assignments.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.