Sixth-ranked Hawai'i will take a decade of Western Athletic Conference volleyball dominance, and the humbling knowledge that it was swept by Utah State and New Mexico State in the Stan Sheriff Center over the last year, into this year's WAC Tournament, which opens here this morning at 9:30.

The Rainbow Wahine are the only team here that has won a WAC championship, and they have won the last 10. They shared the regular-season title with NMSU this season and are seeded second. Hawai'i opens against seventh-seeded Boise State at 7:30 tonight in the last of five matches.

The 'Bows are 28-2 in this tournament, with 19 sweeps and a 24-match winning streak. New Mexico State is on a 13-match winning streak overall and holds its first No. 1 seed, winning the tiebreaker over UH. A WAC championship would probably kick the Aggies back into the Top 25.

The tournament features national leaders, with Hawai'i fourth in the country in assists (13.94), kills (14.88) and hitting (.303), but probably without its starting setter. Sophomore Dani Mafua, who injured her hamstring Saturday, is "doubtful" for this weekend, according to UH coach Dave Shoji. She hasn't practiced all week.

Third-seeded Idaho features Haley Larsen, who ranks 11th nationally in kills. The Vandals are the country's fourth-best blocking team (2.98 per set) and have more block assists (520) than any team in the country. New Mexico State is 12th in blocking (2.66) and Boise 35th (2.51).

Closer to home, but nearly as memorable, Kamehameha graduate Kristal Tsukano needs one dig to reach 1,000 for her three-year career at San Jose State.

A quick look at all the teams follows, along with the WAC Players' Choice Awards. All but two teams voted in The Honolulu Advertiser's unofficial survey, which takes a look at a few awards the WAC did not include yesterday when it announced its all-conference teams.

WAC TOURNAMENT TEAM PREVIEWS

1. NEW MEXICO STATE

(21-7, 5-3 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: All-WAC middle Amber Simpson (2.57 kps, 1.37 bps) slaps fast sets quick and hard at drastic angles and touches almost everything on defense, while primary attacker Lindsey Yon (3.86 kps) is athletic and aggressive, putting even more pressure on the block.

Best Asset: Big right-side block forces left-side hitters to go cross-court, where the WAC's best libero (Krystal Torres) gobbles everything up. And, the Aggies are sooooo hungry for their first WAC title.

Most Intriguing: Ability to set the middle with pretty much any pass — good or bad — and a 6-2 offense (two setters).

2. HAWAI'I

(23-3, 28-2 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Two-time WAC Player of the Year Jamie Houston (3.99 kps), Freshman of the Year Kanani Danielson (2.92) and and all-WAC Aneli Cubi-Otineru (2.39) give UH three outsides who can hammer, and its middles are both hitting .383.

Best Asset: Physicality, and lots of it.

Most Intriguing: Ability to attack from front and back rows resembles the men's game and non-traditional lineup has middle blocker Amber Kaufman following the setter.

3. IDAHO

(18-9, 1-3 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Haley Larsen (4.47 kps) has a blur of an armswing, hits the ball fast and hard and sees the block exceptionally well. Middle Anna McKinney (1.44 bps) and opposite Sarah Loney (1.98 kps, 0.98 bps) anchor the country's fourth-best block.

Best Asset: If an opponent gets in passing trouble, the Vandals' big block grows massive.

Most Intriguing: Haley Larsen proves there is still room for the sub-6-footer in volleyball.

4. UTAH STATE

(11-16, 2-3 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Melissa Osterloh (3.57 kps) is the most dynamic hitter on a balanced team always attempting to fast break. Sophomore setter Chelsea Fowles orchestrates an offense that can make opponents look bad.

Best Asset: The Aggies' fast attack spreads the block from antenna to antenna and creates 1-on-1 opportunities, when the first contact is good.

Most Intriguing: The WAC's quickest offensive system.

5. SAN JOSE STATE

(12-16, 10-10 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Transfer Kelly Crow (3.53 kps) is the primary attacker and Moanalua graduate Brianna Amian (2.52 kps) has become the wild card on the outside for the Spartans since moving from opposite.

Best Asset: Experience with nine upperclassmen and, not coincidentally, a tenacious team in the transition game.

Most Intriguing: Different passing schemes create a different offense and options, putting more pressure on the block.

6. NEVADA

(12-14, 8-7 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Lindsay Baldwin (1.15 bps, 2.77 kps) has become one of the WAC's best attackers. Former libero Allison Hernandez and St. Francis graduate Kylie Harrington are under-sized outsides who hit hard enough to poke holes in the block.

Best Asset: No real weak spot.

Most Intriguing: One of the smallest and least physical WAC teams, it makes the most of what it has. Wolf Pack has lost four five-set conference matches to higher seeded teams.

7. BOISE STATE

(9-18, 2-5 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Sadie Maughan (2.16 kps, 1.03 bps), a 6-foot-4 sophomore, is the key for the Broncos and if they can get the ball to her every other hitter has better options.

Best Asset: The middle, which puts a premium on their passing. Also, BSU is the WAC's third-best blocking team.

Most Intriguing: Boise State runs a "spread defense" with its blocking, working from the outside in and spreading out more rather than "pinching" the middle.

8. FRESNO STATE

(6-19, 6-10 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: Setter Allanah Munson, a transfer from Fresno Pacific, is fourth in the conference in assists, and her favorite targets are freshmen Baylee Platt (3.36 kps) and Brianna Clarke (2.89 kps).

Best Asset: Balance, and a new upbeat atmosphere.

Most Intriguing: Not a senior on the roster so this team will only get better.

9. LOUISIANA TECH

(4-23, 0-6 WAC Tournament)

Players to watch: KC Clayton (1.06 bps, 1.92 kps) in the middle and Taylor Fritz (1.79 kps) outside.

Best Asset: Size, and libero Debora Bolonhini's 4-plus digs a set.

Most Intriguing: The same non-traditional lineup as Hawai'i, but not the same results.