Even nine months later, the merest mention of Middle Tennessee State and Utah State still rankles at the University of Hawai'i.

And, it should.

Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Dave Shoji's sour expression suggests peptic distress when the two low points of last season — or, indeed, the last decade-plus — are brought up.

"You don't need to tell me who beat us," Shoji told reporters the other day. "It's very much in our minds. Hawai'i should not lose to Middle Tennesse State."

But, remarkably, it did, the November shocker ending their season short of even an NCAA regional appearance for the first time in a decade for a program that had once been almost a final four fixture. The loss to Utah State — in three games, no less — was UH's first home Western Athletic Conference defeat.

Now, as the Rainbow Wahine go about practice this week on campus, where camp began yesterday, a couple of the best things they can have going for them are the memories of those two matches.

Those and, of course, the resolve and sense of history to assure that nightmares like them are not repeated in this new season of opportunity.

Lacking only Juliana Sanders from last year's starters on a team that went 27-6, the Rainbow Wahine have a lot to look forward to this season. There is much to take aim at in a campaign that begins with defending national champion Penn State on Aug. 29 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Expectations are high for a team that will hit the top 15 in the preseason polls later this month, win the WAC and go deep into the NCAA Tournament.

Returning the program to what we've come to know over the years as UH volleyball being Job One.

"The fact that we didn't advance to (an NCAA) regional was a blow to all of us," Shoji said. "That summed it up."

It, in fact, pointed the finger squarely at team chemistry. "In the end we just weren't all on the same page," Shoji said.

It was something UH either lost or, as the Utah State match suggested, never really had a grip on in the first place.

At a time when the UH football team was reaching the apex on its Sugar Bowl run, the Rainbow Wahine's fade out was somewhat overlooked.

Except by those involved.

"Last year motivates all of us for this year, Shoji said. "We ended poorly and don't think there's any doubt we're all disappointed in the way we finished last season. That's been on our minds — coaching staff as well as players."

And, that's a good thing.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.