"We just never gave up," UH senior Juliana Sanders said. "We were completely calm and confident. There was never any doubt in our mind that we could take that last game. When we did get down, we just fought."

It was the antithesis of the 'Bows' surprisingly meek defeat at top-ranked Nebraska Sunday. When that ended, they started to seriously contemplate Round 2 with NMSU.

Hawai'i felt compelled to make a request rare only in a place that has led the country in volleyball attendance since 1995: It desperately wants more fans tonight than the 6,440 who have been so faithful all season. A little hostility also wouldn't hurt.

"It was such a hostile environment at New Mexico State," said UH freshman Liz Ka'aihue. "I've never played in front of that type of crowd. It does get into your head. It does affect your play. Some people get fired up, some might lose their game.

"Our crowd is really supportive and nice, to both teams. That's good in a way, but sometimes you need that heckling. I've been to ballparks where the heckling is really bad. Maybe we need fans getting in their face."

Then Ka'aihue, who has two brothers (Kala and Kila) playing in the minor leagues, remembered what state and sport she was talking about.

"I can't see that at all in Hawai'i," she admitted. "I'm not trying to encourage negative cheering, but it always fires the girls up to have seats filled. We're looking forward to that. After playing in front of 13,000 our last match, it will be fun."

For either team, it would be much more fun to win.

The Aggies (19-3, 10-1 WAC) have won their last eight since the marathon loss to Hawai'i, soaring to their highest ranking in history. Their only other losses are to Texas and Nebraska, who could share the next No. 1 ranking after the Longhorns swept the formerly-unbeaten Cornhuskers on Wednesday.

The Aggies run a somewhat unorthodox attack that challenges opponents to neutralize their middles, which sets up their outsides. All-WAC middles Kim Oguh and Amber Simpson are nearly impossible to neutralize — at .337 and .353 they are 2-3 in WAC hitting.

In the teams' last meeting, first-year outsides Lindsey Yon and Krista Altermatt combined for 37 kills. Their consistency makes the 'Bows believe NMSU is better than last year.

"They have weapons at every position, which is not normal for a WAC school," UH senior Kari Gregory said. "This team has two great middles, good outsides. Overall, it's a good team."

Best in the WAC, next to Hawai'i, for now. Clearly, the Aggies are closing the gap.

"Our fans think WAC teams are weak," Ka'aihue said. "But the teams are getting better and New Mexico State is the most talented. Their middles are very good. Our goal is to stop them all — especially the outsides because they had a good game against us last time."

Hawai'i has a 105-match conference home winning streak, dating to 1994. It has never a lost to a WAC team at home.

NOTES

Among those playing and/or coaching in Sunday's 3 p.m. alumnae exhibition are Kanoe Kamana'o, Diana McInerny McKibbin, Terry Malterre, Lauren Duggins, Nahaku Brown, Waynette Mitchell, Sista Palakiko Beasley, Lisa Strand and Cheryl Grimm. The most fascinating battle might be between the left sides listed for the White and Green teams — former low-to-the-ground liberos Melissa Villaroman and Ashley Watanabe.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.