LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ninth-ranked Hawai'i and Tennessee State do not come into tonight's NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship first-round match from different directions so much as from different planets.

The Tigers (20-13) drove up I-65 yesterday morning from Nashville for practice at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Their week has been rather routine since they learned their opponent in the school's first NCAA Tournament would be the Rainbow Wahine (26-5).

In contrast Hawai'i, a four-time national champion with a 61-22 NCAA postseason record, has had an anything-but-boring week. Cross-country flights have been booked and flown and every professor of every player has been contacted in case the 'Bows win this weekend and advance to next week's regional.

"We've got to get our finals straight, maybe take them on the road," senior Juliana Sanders said, after asking what day it was. "Get papers back by e-mail, any way you can because we might not be back the rest of the semester. Turn in final projects."

She has four classes. Sophomore pre-med major Jayme Lee is in the midst of six, including physiology, kinesiology and biology. If Hawai'i advances from the relatively balmy 40's of Louisville to the snowy 30's of State College, Pa., next week, Lee will have five finals to take.

It is nothing new for the 'Bows, while everything is new for Tennessee State, which was 5-27 the season before coach Kathy Roulhac came in three years ago. Now they are Ohio Valley Conference champions and Big Island freshmen Makena Naho'oikaika and Precious Salazar, both out of Kamehameha-Hawai'i, are along for the wondrous ride.

They found the Tigers online, in a search to find a Division I school away from home where they could play. Salazar injured her ankle just before the season started and has been relegated to spot defense. Naho'oikaika is also a defensive specialist and has played in almost every game. Roulhac sees her as a middle and outside hitter in the future.

"I look forward to seeing her progress," Roulhac said. "She's good now. She's going to be amazing. She has no fear. She just jumps and plays."

Just like her late mother, Alofa Tagataese, a Kaimuki High graduate whose exploits at University of Hawai'i-Hilo got her inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame — in Nashville. "I know she is proud of me," Naho'oikaika said.

Both Big Island players were ecstatic after Sunday's selection show, though they had hoped Hawai'i would be hosting this subregional. Instead, it is 24th-ranked Louisville (22-7), which plays Middle Tennessee (33-2) in tonight's other first-round match. Tonight's winners play tomorrow for the right to advance to Penn State next week.

The hosts usually play in 840-seat Cardinal arena, which they sell out with season-ticket holders. The convention center is a sometime home so other fans can follow them and they can host NCAA matches. The court was laid out in half an exhibition hall Tuesday night, with bleachers for 2,046 rolled in.

Salazar and Naho'oikaika have found Southern hospitality to their liking this first semester, though the food is lacking. "They eat chicken all the time," Naho'oikaika complained. They characterize their teammates as "laid back, but come game time they get serious."

Their biggest concern tonight is remaining upbeat and in the moment. "Sometimes we get down and it's hard to get ourselves back up," Salazar said.

That might be something these teams have in common, though the Rainbow Wahine have shown a penchant for pulling themselves out of tough times recently. They are excited to be in a new place surrounded by friendly people and totally immersed in volleyball.

"I think we're a lot more focused and prepared than during the season," Sanders said. "There's a stronger team bond."

"We want it a lot more than I've felt in a while," Lee said. "We have three seniors (Caroline Blood did not make the trip). There's a lot of leadership on this team on and off the court. It really helps with the team and the direction we want to go."

The direction would be northeast about 500 miles, to State College, Pa. It is a trip coach Dave Shoji believes this team is fully capable of making. He knew traveling nearly 5,000 miles wouldn't faze these players. With the exception of the loss at then-No. 1 Nebraska last month, his Rainbow Wahine have been Road Warriors. A few more hours in the air doesn't bother them.

"We have enough veterans that the routine is passed on," Shoji said. "You don't have to tell them where to eat or when to be ready. Rarely is anybody late, which is really, really important. They all know when to get taped. I don't have to monitor that. They know what to eat when we're not eating together. Curfew is not even an issue. It's a pretty veteran class. ... They can be really entertaining or moody, but they are warriors when it comes time to get ready to play on the road. I give them a lot of freedom."

At this point in the season, he is not worried which Hawai'i team will show up. "We're just a better team now and everybody knows their role and we've been through the preparations," Shoji said. "They know what gets them ready and when they weren't ready before they know why. It's a pretty mature team right now. Even the younger players have figured things out and got into a routine."

MATCHES ONLY ON RADIO

The subregional will not be shown on TV because no stations bid. Reportedly, broadcasting the WAC Tournament from Las Cruces, N.M., cost $78,000 and this week would have been much more. If Hawai'i advances, most likely there will be no live TV next week either, but ESPN will show regional finals on a delay basis.

"Obviously, it's not feasible to do," Shoji said. "You can't expect someone to take a loss because people want to see it.

"Listen to the radio."

All Hawai'i postseason matches will be carried live on 1420 AM.

TOUGH TO HOST

Hawai'i is one of five seeded teams not hosting a subregional. The only way for the Rainbows to host, according to an NCAA representative, would be by receiving a top-four seed or getting placed in a subregional where the other three teams had to fly in. The rule that the four top seeds host was put in two years ago.

The NCAA volleyball committee committed itself to geographical priorities after 9/11. This year, only 15 teams are flying into subregional sites. The others were placed within 350 miles — the maximum distance a team can drive. Washington, seeded sixth, would not have hosted except its opponents — Brigham Young, Mississippi and Missouri — all had to fly in.

Hawai'i is the only team to be seeded the last four years and not host.

SIGHTS OF THE CITY

Shoji took his team to the Muhammad Ali Center after practice yesterday, to "get them some culture and out of their hotel rooms."

That was followed by a 2-hour study hall. The Center features six pavilions "spotlighting the boxing champion/peace activist's traits: Confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, spirituality and giving."

Pictures of Ali and Col. Harlan Sanders are up all over downtown. Sanders, born in 1890, started selling his Kentucky Fried Chicken at age 40 to travelers. He franchised 25 years later, making a handshake deal to get 5 cents a chicken.

The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is also within walking distance, with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum a few miles away.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.