Volleyball coaches call it getting "out of system" but most spectators simply see it as a team appearing awkward, out of sync or not quite right. Whatever it is, sixth-ranked Hawai'i and New Mexico State are desperately seeking it — on the other side of the net — in today's Western Athletic Conference showdown.

The WAC's top two teams play for the second time in two weeks at 5 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine (13-2, 6-0 WAC) swept in Las Cruces Sept. 27. The difference between the teams was a total of nine points.

Hawai'i never lost its composure and rarely lost control, playing particularly well at the end of each set. The cornerstone of its confidence was the first touch, with brilliant ballhandling keeping the 'Bows "in system" nearly the entire match.

"We can't allow Hawai'i to hit .280 again if we're going to win," NMSU coach Mike Jordan said flatly. "We hit .273. We've got to get them out of system.

"I didn't expect them to pass the ball that well. I knew they were better. They looked better on film than they had the past few years, but they were exceptional. It was really tough getting them out of system. That was probably the most impressive thing."

Still, the Aggies (10-7, 5-1) let the second set get away that day, but were in it until the bitter end of the first and third — both decided by two points.

That tiny margin can come down to the way a ball falls, a controversial call or a spontaneous flick of the wrist. These teams have gone the full five sets five times since NMSU joined the WAC in 2005, with the Aggies' only win ending Hawai'i's eight-year conference winning streak in 2006.

Now the Rainbow Wahine have not lost since August. They come in with a 12-match winning streak and the only set they have lost in the last month came in their first WAC match against Idaho. New Mexico State, which has focused on serving and passing the past two weeks, has not lost a set in the conference, aside from Hawai'i. All but one of its losses are against Top-25 teams.

What frustrated the Aggies most two weeks ago was how close they were.

"The little things we could have done that would have helped us at the end of games," said Krystal Torres, one of three all-conference seniors, and NMSU's career digs leader. "I saw a lot of good things about our team. I felt we came out not intimidated at all. We played with them right away."

The Aggies face more challenges here, with the country's largest crowds and in the WAC's most inviting — by far — location. Only one of the teams' five-set matches have come in Stan Sheriff Center, site of the WAC Tournament next month.

Amber Simpson, the Aggies' career leader in blocks and hitting percentage, admits to being "pretty mentally scarred" after last year's loss here.

"Every time we play here, I don't know what it is, but we're like relaxed, vacation ... the mental focus isn't the same as when we play other teams in the conference," she said. "The location has something to do with that, and they have a really huge crowd, bigger than anywhere else. That's a big factor. Besides, they have a great team anyway."

The Aggies, who have been to four of the last five NCAA Tournaments, are clearly the WAC's next-best, and aching to eliminate the word "next." Torres and Simpson are All-America material. A third senior, Lindsey Yon, is reigning WAC Player of the Week after averaging six kills and hitting .382.

New Mexico State, pounding other WAC opponents by an average of 25-19, has the ability to beat the 'Bows. First, it has to make them look bad, or "out of system." Then it has to believe it can beat them. There is all kinds of incentive.

"I think they'll come out a lot stronger," UH freshman Stephanie Ferrell said. "We beat them at their home arena in a sweep. I think we bruised their ego a little bit, kind of surprised them."

Or maybe the Rainbow Wahine just reaffirmed what the Aggies already knew.

"Hawai'i is always going to compete," Torres aid. "They are never just going to walk in and lay down. You always expect them to give you another ball."

Added Simpson: "They are resilient and no matter what they are going to keep fighting. If they're down, they just come back."