More than the weather (a snowstorm is in the immediate future) or the altitude (Provo, Utah, is 4,625 feet above sea level), a great concern is the crowd when the Hawai'i volleyball team plays Brigham Young tonight in the Smith Fieldhouse.

The Cougars have had turnaway crowds for each of their four home matches this season.

A capacity crowd is considered to be 5,500 in Smith. This year, the Cougars' average home attendance is 5,565.

"They turn away hundreds of people," BYU co-coach Shawn Patchell said.

The Cougars easily lead the nation in men's volleyball attendance, a title once dominated by the Warriors. UH is averaging 1,879 in-house fans per home match this season.

The difference?

"Hawai'i raised its prices," Patchell said, "and we stepped up."

As part of the tuition fees, BYU students pay for an all-sports pass. For $80 for the academic year, students are allowed entry to any home sporting event on a first-come, first-served basis. The passes generate more than $2.4 million in revenue for the athletic department.

General admission for a BYU volleyball match is $6. In contrast, the top price for a UH volleyball ticket is $14.

The Cougars have been a popular draw even though no starter was raised in Utah and boys' volleyball is not a sanctioned varsity sport in the state's high schools.

"A lot of family and people you know from school come to our matches," BYU middle blocker Russell Holmes said. "It's nice to have those guys rooting for you. It's definitely an intense crowd. It's kind of like that Duke (basketball) atmosphere. The fans are really close to the players. You can feel them breathing down your neck. I bet it's kind of intense for our opponents to come in."

Holmes said the Cougars embrace a return to Smith after losing three road matches last week, to California Baptist and twice to top-ranked Pepperdine.

"Pepperdine just out-played us," said Patchell, noting the only consistent Cougar was outside hitter Yosleyder Cala.

Cala, who is 6 feet 8, played on Cuba's national team for four years.

Freshman setter Yamil Perez, who has been bothered by a sprained ankle, will start.

"He's a little tender," Patchell said. "He hasn't had a chance to practice much."

UH also will be at full strength. Setter Brian Beckwith has recovered from an allergic reaction to skin medication.

Left-side hitter Lauri Hakala also will start after missing three matches because of an abdominal strain. Hakala and libero Eric Kalima are the Warriors' best passers.

Wilton said the two full practices in Utah helped the Warriors adjust to the thin air, which makes serves sail longer and dries out the skin.

Still, Wilton said of the high altitude, "it has nothing to do with nothing when the game starts."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.