A match that should have been a celebration of extended excellence and perseverance over the travel elements turned bad for Hawai'i last night when sophomore Jessica Keefe buried the final point of the Rainbow Wahine's volleyball sweep over Louisiana Tech and fell, injured, to the floor.

Keefe, who starts on the right side for 11th-ranked Hawai'i, has had two surgeries on her right knee in the past three years. She was clutching her left knee last night in Ruston, La., following UH's 30-25, 30-20, 30-14 victory.

UH officials are no longer allowed to give out information on athletes' injuries except to say if they are cleared to play. Coach Dave Shoji said Keefe is "doubtful" for tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference match at 25th-ranked New Mexico State, and is making contingency plans for the rest of the season.

Last night UH was trying to fly in walk-on Caroline Blood for the NMSU match. Freshman Amber Kaufman will start on the right, Shoji said, with backup setter Cayley Thurlby also in the mix.

The 'Bows lost starters Tara Hittle and Nickie Thomas to season-ending injuries earlier. If Keefe is seriously hurt, the 2004 recruiting class would all be out.

The 'Bows won before a record LaTech volleyball crowd of 736 at Thomas Assembly Center. The first 82 minutes of the WAC match had been good — not great — for a UH team that arrived in Ruston some 6 hours before first serve, after traveling 12 hours. The late arrival was necessary because of several schedule changes the past few months.

Hawai'i (13-4, 7-0 WAC) understandably staggered early against the Techsters (6-17), winless in six conference matches.

The Rainbow Wahine took their first lead at 8-7 and ultimately pulled to a 28-19 advantage before a letdown forced Shoji to call time at 28-22.

Jamie Houston (19 kills) and Sarah Mason (11), who matched the Techsters' team kill total, finally put down the final two as the 'Bows won despite hitting just .029 (14 kills, 13 errors).

Game 2 was similar, with Shoji calling time after a 4-0 LaTech run, with UH ahead 14-11. The Rainbows came back quickly and ended up hitting .333 in the second and .429 in the third.

In contrast, the Techsters hit .000 for the match and were stuffed 14 times — seven by Kari Gregory. Shannon Phillips, LaTech's major offensive threat at an average of four kills a game, had four kills all night, with six errors.

The final kill was only Keefe's second. Shoji said he saw nothing leading up to her fall.

"It was strange because it was just a normal play," he said. "She went up and hit it and put it down. No one was near her, she wasn't in an awkward position. She just, obviously, came down wrong."

Hawai'i, playing its fourth match in six nights, won its 132nd straight WAC match and eighth overall. It has swept all seven conference opponents this year.

UH takes a break from conference after tomorrow. It plays Notre Dame Monday and Tuesday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Monday match begins at 7 p.m., but the Tuesday match has been moved up to 6 p.m. to accommodate a change in Notre Dame's travel schedule.