Before the glow wore off and the WAC Tournament closed in, and the Stan Sheriff Center changed from home to a home for volleyball memories, this year's trio of Rainbow Wahine seniors each wanted to take a parting shot.

Remarkably, all wanted to take an identical parting shot, to thank their fans.

"The fans have no idea what they do to our program," 'Aiea's Ashley Watanabe said long after Friday's Senior Night ended. "We can't ever show them how grateful we are."

Her senior teammates from the Mainland, who had no idea what they were getting into when they moved to Manoa, delivered the same message.

"I want them to know they mean so much to every single one of us," Susie Boogaard said. "A lot of times people think 'I'm just one fan,' but they're not. They have to know that we couldn't do this without them and they are such a big part of this team. Each and every one of us cherish all of them.

"When we hear we have 8,000 people our mouths drop. It's amazing. To have that every single game is just awesome. They have to know they are a huge part of this team."

Even Victoria Prince, who has spent just 16 months here since transferring from Washington State, was overwhelmed by what she saw in her abbreviated All-American UH career.

"Win or lose, it's amazing," Prince said. "They are just right there. They have no idea how much they help us on the court."

The fans might not, but apparently it doesn't get past players — Hawai'i's or its opponents. It especially does not get past those players' parents.

Boogaard's family traveled from California to nearly every match in her four-year career. Parents John and Susan now speak wistfully of visits here, where they consider the arena food "five star" and "can't wait to sit in the stands and go to the pre-party and post-party. It has been the time of Susie's life."

Boogaard's cousin, one of 50 family members and friends to come for the final home matches, was overwhelmed Friday: "She was telling me, 'It's unbelievable,'" Susie recalled. "'It was like you're famous and really you're not, you're just my cousin.'"

Victoria's mother Brenda, from Washington, said she is sad the opportunities to be with other parents and boosters are coming to a close. She starts naming who she will miss, and can't stop.

Even at road matches, Brenda Prince is often in awe that green is the prevalent color.

"The Hawai'i fans are just there ... " Brenda Prince said. "I tell people about it, about the Stan Sheriff Center and the number of people who show up at these games and it's just mind-boggling for women's volleyball. I'll really miss it."

When it's over. That could be in a little more than a week, or nearly a month.

Eighth-ranked Hawai'i (22-6) opens defense of its WAC Tournament championship Thursday night. It will play the winner of that morning's match between Louisiana Tech and Boise State, the last two seeds.

The 'Bows haven't lost to a conference team in more than seven years. Whether they win the tournament, they will go on to the NCAA Tournament next week. The field will be announced Sunday.

From there, it's win or go home. For the seniors, that has especially deep meaning — particularly after their emotional aloha match last week.

"I couldn't describe that to anyone," Prince said. "They'd think you were exaggerating and you weren't exaggerating at all. It was amazing. I'm not even sure it happened. Maybe I dreamed the whole thing. I have never seen anything like that before."

She will never see it again, at least not in a volleyball setting. That doesn't mean her career will close with a whimper.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is the best part of the season," Prince said. "It's why we play all year, because of the NCAA Tournament. It just gets better from here on."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.