Opposing volleyball coaches in the Western Athletic Conference have a genuine "but for the grace of God" reaction when they hear about the injuries that have hit 15th-ranked Hawai'i.

There is sympathy and empathy, for the players who have been lost (Tara Hittle and Nickie Thomas) and the program.

But let's get real. The Rainbow Wahine haven't lost to any of these volleyball teams since joining the WAC a decade ago. Their 125-match winning streak is an NCAA Division I record. No team wants to be on the wrong end of that bit of trivia.

San Jose State coach Craig Choate is honest enough to articulate what is on everyone's mind.

"If those injures are a chink in their armor, OK, we'll take what we can get," Choate said. "No one wants to look at the WAC standings and see some 2,000 game winning streak."

No one believes it will be easy as Hawai'i prepares to open its 11th WAC season tonight against Fresno State. That includes UH coach Dave Shoji, who does not think a loss would radically alter the aura Hawai'i has created.

"It would have a positive effect on that particular program if they beat us," Shoji said. "Whoever they may be. One day. Someday."

Choate is the only coach in the WAC now who has ever experienced beating the 'Bows. That came 13 years ago, in his first season at SJSU, when both teams were in the Big West. His rejuvenated Spartans get their first shot at Hawai'i in San Jose next Saturday (Sept. 30).

Physically, Choate believes SJSU has a chance. Emotionally, he's not sure it can hang with Hawai'i an entire match.

"Even if you take a game the question is 'Can you play like that all night?' " Choate said. "That's a huge advantage for Dave, but he has created it.

"It's a confidence thing. None of my players have ever beat them. We can say 'Let's go get them,' but in the back of our mind, we never got Hawai'i."

New Mexico State is this year's favorite to take the WAC bully down. The Aggies have won their first 15, including a sweep of visiting Idaho in their WAC opener on Thursday, and earned their first national ranking this week, at No. 24.

They fell to UH in five twice last year — as did Nevada the year before — and basically have everybody back. "We are one really good outside hitter away from being a fantastic team," NMSU coach Mike Jordan says.

That could be a frightening thought for the injury-wracked Rainbows. But until some team actually beats them, opposing coaches are the first to admit UH should have no fear. Even the animated Jordan, whose season has been the antithesis of Hawai'i's so far, will be relatively calm until some team actually brings down the 'Bows.

"Absolutely that would change everything," he said. "Hawai'i has earned that respect because it has been so dominant. In the players' minds, a good night against them is coming close and getting a moral victory. We've got to get past that."

Besides, even with the injuries, most WAC coaches are convinced Hawai'i still has the best talent.

"Look at that level of athleticism and experience they had on the bench," Jordan said. "How do you beat that? Even after those players they've lost, they keep rolling out these other ones. They are all successful players. The depth they have is fantastic. They are well-coached and tough to beat regardless of who they put out there."

Shoji might alter that to read "the depth they HAD is fantastic," but agrees in principle with Jordan's statement. UH is approaching the WAC season as a time to find comfort in its altered state and make dramatic improvements.

Shoji would add another factor that has allowed his team to run up this remarkable WAC record. It is something he cannot coach.

"Our players have done an unbelievable job preparing for road matches ...," said Shoji, whose team has won its last 40 on an opponent's home court. "To be honest, our talent level has been more than anybody else (in the WAC). That's kind of negated on the road, but our players, through the years, every night out they just found something. Enough to win matches. We've been down 0-2 and gone five many, many times. But in the end, our players were just tougher."

This year, they might have to be tougher than ever before.

NOTES

Fresno State fell to Santa Clara, USC and Washington before the conference season started. All three are now in the Top 10. The Bulldogs were out-hit 277 to .111 and out-blocked 3.21 to 1.61 in the preseason. They are led by Alisha McKee and Lacey Gera, both averaging about three kills a game.

Grayson DuBose, former BYU men's assistant, is the new head coach at Utah State. Former USU coach Burt Fuller is now an assistant at Utah. Robin Davis, formerly a Notre Dame associate coach, is now head coach at Boise State.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.