For an opposing volleyball coach, it is a loaded question. But if you ask a Rainbow Wahine if their eighth-ranked team's recent volleyball struggles in the Western Athletic Conference might be giving opponents confidence, they are refreshingly candid.

"Since we've been losing games teams come out a little harder because they feel like they can beat us," UH junior Amber Kaufman said after Fresno State took a set off UH Sunday. "We need to play harder."

Nevada coach Devin Scruggs and Utah State's Grayson DuBose bring their teams to Hawai'i tonight and tomorrow for the Rainbows' final two WAC regular-season home matches. They started the week with a share of fourth in the WAC, four matches behind the Rainbows. The coaches remain, seemingly, in awe of Hawai'i despite the set that got away Sunday, New Mexico State's sweep here earlier this month and USU's out-of-nowhere upset at Stan Sheriff Center last November.

Utah State was the first WAC team to win in Hawai'i, the first to thrash UH in three, and halted a 108-match home conference winning streak. But DuBose remains reverent, particularly after getting swept in Logan two weeks ago. He believes the 'Bows are much better than last year, particularly on the outside.

"For them, it's a matter of concentration, to be honest," DuBose said. "They are so physical and in every position. I watch Kaufman go off one foot and I don't jump that high off a chair. They lose their focus because they are so physical. That's an outsider's perspective. It's not a slight, but they are so physical they tend to not attend to details the way they need to."

Scruggs is 0-23 against Hawai'i as a coach and, even as a player for University of the Pacific 20 years ago, never beat the 'Bows here. The Wolf Pack's five-set victory over USU Saturday was her 200th coaching victory and her winning percentage is .583 — .625 if you subtract UH.

Five years ago, Nevada took UH to the limit twice, but it has not taken a set off UH the last six meetings. Scruggs echoes DuBose's beliefs: Hawai'i is more physical and better this year. Her team's strategy is to be patient, get in a rally and hope Hawai'i gets frustrated.

"If they stay patient there are not a lot of teams that can beat their physicality ...," Scruggs said. "With Hawai'i, you are not able to make the mistakes you normally make and get away with them."

Hawai'i coach Dave Shoji comes at it from the other direction. He wants to see two sweeps this weekend, dominance — "I'm not sure if it can happen, but I'd like it to happen" — as his team closes on the critical part of the season, and leadership. He blames the 'Bows' walkabouts on attitude.

"We've got to come out of it faster," Shoji said. "We get quiet, tentative. That might happen with a young team, but we're not that young. We should have better leadership out there to stem a run.

"Sometimes you just don't have players that take that responsibility, they're not capable or confident enough. I'm hoping we get leadership out of our seniors. We've got enough of them out there."

NOTES

Freshman Kanani Herring has legally changed her last name to Danielson and now goes by Kanani Danielson. The Kamehameha Schools graduate and three-time State Player of the Year has started all but one of the Rainbow matches and is averaging 3.05 kills and 2.92 digs per set while hitting .305.

"This is something that I have been looking forward to finalizing for a long time," said Danielson, who is taking the surname of her stepfather.

Tryouts for the 2009 Imi Ike volleyball season will be Sunday at Klum Gym. The club team is coached by members of the Rainbow Wahine staff, and current and former players.

Registration will be from noon to 12:45 p.m., with tryouts from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. There is a $10 registration fee.

Past Imi Ike players include Dani Mafua, Liz Ka'aihue and Kanani Danielson. Last season's 18's team won the silver medal in the national open division, the highest finish ever for a Hawai'i team.

There are openings for all teams (18's, 16's, 15's and 14's). For more information, email imiikevolleyball@hotmail.com.

Ticket packages for the WAC Volleyball Tournament, Nov. 20, 21 and 23 at Stan Sheriff Center, go on sale Monday. All-session packages for all three days are $45 for lower-level seats and $40 upper level. Single-day tickets go on sale Nov. 17, at $19 and $16.

In addition to purchasing tickets online at HawaiiAthletics.com, fans can buy them at the SSC Box Office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling 944-2697 the same hours.

UH will host for the first time. The Rainbow Wahine have won the last eight tournaments and advanced to the WAC Tournament final all 10 tournaments they have played.

Jamie Houston had double-doubles in both matches last week, giving her four this season. Idaho's Haley Larsen and Fresno's Allanah Munson lead the WAC with 10. Nevada freshman Kylie Harrington, a St. Francis graduate, is next with seven. Freshman Kanani Danielson leads UH with six.