By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Volleyball’s Sweet 16 is played at a rare altitude reserved for the most talented teams and those with the strongest survival skills.

Every remaining team, including the University of Hawai‘i, has its share of nicks and dents — players out with injuries or playing through pain. At this point, it means nothing.

Minnesota meets UC Santa Barbara in the first NCAA Championship West Regional semifinal tonight at 5 at Stan Sheriff Center. Following that, the Wahine face Long Beach State. The winners play tomorrow for a final-four berth in Richmond, Va., next week.

It is a monstrous trip Hawai‘i would desperately like to make. It knows precisely how to get there, and it is unlike any year in recent memory.

This season, there are no extraordinary Player of the Year-type talents — no Angelica Ljungquist, Robyn Ah Mow or Heather Bown. It is the way the Wahine like it.

"What’s different this year is we have a team," Veronica Lima says. "We don’t have nobody stand out. We have 13 players who can play all the time. We have six freshmen, but two (Maja Gustin and Kim Willoughby) start and they are all together with the team. And we have three seniors (Jessica Sudduth, Aven Lee and Andrea Gomez Tukuafu).

"The only thing that can make us win a national championship is if we stick together."

Coaches put it more clinically.

Head coach Dave Shoji claims UH "can hurt you from everywhere." Assistant Kari Anderson calls it "depth and diversity." Associate coach Charlie Wade believes there is not "a freebie in the rotation."

"We have five, six or seven kids that can jump, hit, get their hands over the net and play in the front court," Wade says. "This is the largest collection of physical talent we’ve had since I’ve been here."

Outsiders agree.

"They are so solid and so deep, so strong at every position," Fresno coach Lindy Vivas said. "I think they’re a final four team. They have the talent. Heather (Bown) was so dominant last year. It seems like they have everybody contributing more now. That accountability helps players. They run with it when given a chance and I think more of them are being given a chance now."

The Wahine will need every inch of that talent to reach their first final four since 1996. They lost at Long Beach two weeks ago, with Gustin — their best blocker — out injured (she should start tonight) and 49er frequent flyers Cheryl Weaver and Tayyiba Haneef all but untouchable for two games.

"You don’t stop either Weaver or Haneef, they’re so physically imposing," Shoji says. "You hope to slow them down.

"There will be times when they both go over us and down in front of our defense tomorrow. We understand that. When that happens we just have to go to the next play. There’s no use worrying about it. They are going to do that on occasion. If they do that a lot, we’re going to be in trouble."

Hawai‘i also blew its best offensive chance last time when it failed to find Keri Nishimoto — the 49ers’ tiny setter — to hit over. Shoji swears that won’t happen again, but it is his team that has to execute.

From the moment the Wahine returned from Long Beach, Shoji’s emphasis has been on aggression — "bodies flying, lots of celebration." It was never evident a week ago, when Hawai‘i sleep-walked over Davidson, which characterized the Wahine as "melancholy."

Against Utah the next night, Hawai‘i played in another emotional world, digging the Utes a second-round grave with Willoughby having what Shoji called the "best match of her UH career."

"Friday was a big boost to our team emotionally and physically," Anderson says. "Utah put the screws to us and we responded really well. We were emotional all night. There was a good intensity level the whole match. And you know they’ll be fired up for Long Beach."

History dictates that. These teams have a rabid resume that coaches and fans might appreciate more than current players. The 49ers have ended five Wahine seasons. Hawai‘i won the last match here 14 months ago, ending The Beach’s 42-match winning streak, which was third-longest in NCAA history.

Another chapter comes tonight, in the rare air of the Sweet 16.

QUICK SETS: About 7,600 ticket packages were sold by 5 p.m. yesterday, meaning KFVE cannot show regional matches live. The station plans to televise the UH-Long Beach match at 9:30 tonight, followed by Minnesota-Santa Barbara. If Hawai‘i wins tonight, KFVE will show tomorrow’s regional final beginning at 9 p.m. . . . The 2,700 tickets remaining for tonight will be on sale today. The single-date prices range from $6-$12. . . . Single-date tickets will also be on sale tomorrow. . . . Minnesota hired the Royal Hawaiian Band to serve as its pep band. . . . The Gophers have also arranged to pick up KFVE’s feed and have their first live TV volleyball broadcast tonight in Minnesota.