Fourth-ranked Hawai'i might be the toughest team in the country to scout after five matches.

The Rainbow Wahine (2-3) closed the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic with a 30-27, 28-30, 30-18, 30-24 victory over Western Michigan (2-3) yesterday, before 4,171 at Stan Sheriff Center. It was the first time this season a UH opponent was not ranked in the top 10.

In the midst of a monster schedule, Hawai'i has known injury, illness and utter chaos, interrupted by streaks of surprisingly slick volleyball by a bunch of people who might never play next to one another again. Coach Dave Shoji, down three starting hitters two weeks into the season, has started lineups he never dreamed of a month ago.

At times over the past four days, particularly in the sweep of seventh-ranked Southern California and the first two games against fifth-ranked Classic champion Penn State, he looked brilliant. Other times — when the 'Bows blew that two-game lead Friday and looked befuddled for long periods yesterday — the improvisation failed.

Welcome to the start of what already promises to be an adventurous season.

"Hawai'i is banged up and hurt but they are going to be stronger than ever when they are healthy." WMU coach Colleen Munson said. "I'm glad we got to see them when they were down and out. But he's got so many options with these guys that he can pull out. That was really good for our team to see — that regardless of who is in the starting rotation they are able to compete at a high level night in and night out. We didn't see the same lineup in any of the matches."

In other words, going into the third week of the season, Hawai'i has little idea of how good it can be — to say nothing of the rest of the country. It just knows it has 13 players capable of making an impact, or mistake.

Shoji expects Tara Hittle (sprained ankle) to be available for front-row duty next week, and possibly Sarah Mason (sprained ankle). Alicia Arnott, who missed Penn State but was extremely efficient out of the bullpen yesterday, should be well after suffering "flu-like symptoms" over the weekend.

While they were gone, Jamie Houston hammered her way into the starting lineup. The freshman got dramatically better as the Classic wore on, closing with 22 kills and a .405 percentage yesterday. She now leads the team in kills (3.61 per game) and is the only one on the left side hitting over .200.

"She's a player that's only going to get better," UH senior Ashley Watanabe said. "She's already a threat, as raw a talent as she is. Her potential is going to blow people out of the water. She is a quick learner and she doesn't look afraid."

Shoji flatly calls Houston a "starter" and a much-needed "terminator" who will have to be beaten out. "I was not prepared to play her this much," he said. "We've got more experienced players and I thought that was the way we would go. But we were forced to play her and she's really responded."

Western Michigan out-hustled and out-hit Hawai'i for the first half of the first game and most of the second last night. The Rainbow Wahine struggled with their serving (seven errors) and passing in Game 1, but were saved by Houston and Susie Boogaard, who hammered seven kills apiece.

There was no saving the 'Bows in Game 2. The Broncos got up by as many as six (19-13) with an attack Hawai'i could not solve. UH rallied behind Cayley Thurlby (4 for 4) and Houston, who had another seven kills.

The game was tied at 24, 26, 27 and 28. Then Schea Fissel dropped her ninth kill and Houston hit out to end it. For the game, Kathryn Babcock buried half of her match-high 16 kills for WMU, and Hawai'i did not have a block.

It got four in Game 3. The first roof put the Rainbows up 12-5 and ended 104 points of blocking frustration. The Broncos whittled their deficit to 20-18, prompting Shoji to replace Boogaard with Arnott. She went 3 for 5 as the 'Bows scored the final 10 points with Cayley Thurlby serving.

WMU hit for a negative percentage in the third, with 11 hitting errors — three more than it had the first two games combined. Its offense was only a little more efficient in the fourth, but the spirited Broncos stayed close with Hawai'i's help. The 'Bows finally found a way to finish, scoring six straight to go up 29-22 with Watanabe serving, Arnott and Houston hitting and Kari Gregory blocking.

"It wasn't our finesse game or intense game," Watanabe said. "It seemed a little sketchy from the start."

It was improvisation which, by definition, will always be a surprise.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Most Outstanding—Sam Tortorello (PSU); Bibiana Candelas (USC), Shaylen Jackson (WMU), Nicole Fawcett (PSU), Christa Harmotto (PSU), Victoria Prince (UH), Kanoe Kamana'o (UH).

NOTES

The Rainbow Wahine took second in the Classic, with a 2-1 record. USC (1-2) was third and Western Michigan (0-3) fourth. By winning all three matches, Penn State ran its record to 7-1 in Hawai'i, where it won its only national championship (1999). UH had won the past three Classics, and is 42-12 in the 18-year history of the event.

Hawai'i faces Cincinnati on Thursday in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Volleyball Challenge. The 'Bows also play Cal State Northridge on Friday and 13th-ranked UCLA on Saturday. Second-ranked Washington comes in the following week for two matches.

UH's Student-Athlete Advisory Council collected $7,172.74 for Hurricane Katrina victims at the three nights of the Classic and Saturday's football game.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.