Sixth-ranked Hawai'i might look more like the 11th-ranked Rainbow Wahine volleyball team that staggered into last year's Western Athletic Conference Tournament when this year's tournament opens tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Starting setter Dani Mafua has not practiced the past two days after injuring her hamstring in warmups Saturday. Stephanie Brandt, who started last year for UH and was second-team all-WAC, came in 11 points into the Utah Valley match and helped Hawai'i to a sweep.

"Hopefully we won't see anything different," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "Brandt started most of last year and I don't think we lose anything.

"It's mostly got to do with the tempo of the offense. Dani is a little quicker with her release and she can stay in tempo a little better. Stephanie sets it a little higher."

Shoji has no idea when Mafua will be healthy enough to play. Even minor hamstring injuries can take weeks to fully heal. The Rainbows have two more non-conference matches next Wednesday and Friday against Cal Poly. Those, like this week, are critical to their NCAA Tournament seeding. The 64-team field will be announced Nov. 30 and Hawai'i, currently 16th in the NCAA's power rating, wants a top-eight seed.

"Hopefully Dani can be back this week," Shoji said. "If not, we certainly want to get her back for Cal Poly because that's a big series. But, we understand it might take three weeks."

Sophomore libero Liz Ka'aihue is the backup setter in practice. She hit and set during her Punahou career. Starting left-side hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru is Shoji's "emergency backup to the emergency backup."

Like last year, when Hawai'i won its 10th straight WAC championship, the 'Bows will open against Boise State tomorrow.