After what ninth-ranked Hawai'i has gone through the first month of the volleyball season, it doesn't care if last night was a makeover or a do-over.

A night after one of the Rainbow Wahine's most disheartening losses, they bounced back to blast Loyola Marymount, 30-17, 31-29, 30-25. The Lions (11-2) played best in Game 2 but felt the worst after letting a 22-13 advantage get away before 5,845 at Stan Sheriff Center.

It was like a combination of all the leads Hawai'i let get away Friday, when LMU became the first unranked team in eight years to beat the 'Bows. The Lions upset their first Top-10 opponent in more than two years in five games, coming in with a roar and leaving with the same swagger after Heather Hughes' 29 kills ultimately held Hawai'i off.

The 'Bows rallied dramatically last night, with the second-game surge bringing back memories of last year's magic. It was the way the Rainbow Wahine (7-6) expected to play this season. Until last night they had not pulled it out of the hat through five losses to top-five teams and Friday's nightmare.

"We learned from watching the film, learned from the disappointment," said co-captain Cayley Thurlby, "and just came back with fire."

Kanoe Kamana'o, the other co-captain, pointed to wiser plays and aggression as the difference on the floor. "There was no hesitation out there," she said. "Everyone was going for every single ball, and Ashley (Watanabe) having 22 digs ... she was getting everything."

This time Hawai'i never relented, other than the first six points of the match and some LMU-induced pain in Game 2. Victoria Prince (13 kills) and Alicia Arnott (12) led an offense that was just efficient enough — UH hit only .167 — while Kamana'o (15 digs) and Watanabe anchored a defense that was spectacular.

"Hawai'i, especially hearing all about how they are not able to finish, I knew they'd come out with fire," LMU coach Steve Stratos said. "We tried to prepare our very young athletes for that, but I don't know if they fully embraced how Hawai'i would come out."

After losing five of the first six points in Game 1, the Rainbows went on a 17-6 surge behind Arnott, Prince and a relentless defense. That forced LMU to burn both its timeouts so when Kamana'o served six straight — to put UH up 26-13 — there was no way to slow the slide.

In contrast, the Rainbow Wahine took their final timeout in Game 2 trailing 13-6 and hitting negative .417. The gap grew to 22-13 before Tara Hittle replaced a struggling Sarah Mason and ignited a comeback with basically last year's starting lineup.

UH closed to 27-20. Hughes hit out and Hittle blasted her third kill. LMU called time and came back to get aced by Watanabe and hit into the net to make it 27-24.

After an LMU kill, Prince hammered two kills, LMU hit out and shanked Susie Boogaard's serve to tie it at 28. The Lions got to 29 first on Hughes' fifth kill.

Hittle's fourth kill erased game point. The Lions followed with a dink into the net and Prince hammered game point after a stunning save by Hittle.

"Every game we've been behind we've always lost this year," Kamana'o said. "For us to come back and do that in the game was a feeling of this was the team we were before."

Hittle would start the third game and while her hitting cooled, her passing did not. The Rainbows scored the first three points, weathered a few mini-LMU runs and kept their advantage at four or better most of the game.

NOTES

The Ilustre sisters — Heidi, the beach volleyball star, and Hedder, the defensive specialist — turned out to be the offensive weapons at the alumnae exhibition that preceded last night's match. Each had seven kills, with Heidi helping the White team to a 30-23, 30-29 victory over the Green. The final three points were played with all 30 alumnae on the court. The libero-like players dominated the match with Aven Lee, Hedder Ilustre, Melissa Villaroman and Tehani (Miyashiro) Tiatoa — who all played almost solely backrow for the Rainbow Wahine — shining at the net.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.