It was reminiscent of a Monday 16 weeks ago. There was all the excitement and anticipation that comes with the start of a new season.

Monday’s practice in Gym 1 felt just like the one back on Aug. 8, when Hawaii was eager to be tested in the first of three consecutive weeks of tournament play. Thirty matches later … deja vu. The Rainbow Wahine are preparing for what they hope is three weeks of NCAA tournament play.

"We’re all excited to reach our goal, to reach the final four," Wahine senior outside hitter Chanteal Satele said. "The season has gone by really fast. This is what we’ve been preparing for."

For the first time since 2003, Hawaii wasn’t preparing for a plane ride on the day after Selection Sunday. And, for the first time since that final four season — coincidently in San Antonio, as it is this year — the Wahine have a chance to be in the Stan Sheriff Center for the first four NCAA matches, as they also will host next week’s Honolulu Regional.

"It’s really nice to be home, on our home court, with all our fans," Wahine sophomore setter Mita Uiato said. "I think there is a little pressure for us to win (this week). It would be rough if we didn’t make the regionals.

"But we can’t look there yet. It’s the postseason and all the teams are really good. We’re ready to be challenged and keep our momentum."

Hawaii coach Dave Shoji has that "one at a time" approach. In his 37th season, with 29 previous NCAA tournament appearances, he knows that anything can happen this time of year.

"The biggest thing we have to guard against is looking ahead," he said. "I know Northern Colorado is a really good team and we need to focus on them.

"We do want to go all the way, but we have to go it one (match) at a time."

Up first is Northern Colorado (22-8) in Thursday’s second match. The Bears swept Portland State — Hawaii’s first-round opponent last year — for the Big Sky tournament title Saturday.

Thursday’s first match pits Mountain West champion Colorado State (23-5) against Oregon (21-9), which finished sixth in the Pac-12.

This will be the first meeting with UNC for Hawaii. The Wahine are 7-1 against Oregon, the lone loss coming in the first round of the 1984 NCAA tournament in Eugene, Ore. They are 7-0 against former Western Athletic Conference member Colorado State.

Hawaii started slowly in two of its three matches last week, down 0-2 against Fresno State in the WAC tournament semifinal before winning in five, and dropping the first set at Cal State Fullerton before closing it out in four.

There are no second chances this week.

Shoji said he did receive a number of texts and emails from other coaches regarding his tough bracket, but "I’m not really paying attention," he said. "Everybody’s bracket is tough."

Note

Some 5,000 tickets remained after Monday’s first day of sales. There were approximately 100 people in line when ticket windows opened at 9 a.m.

The first to get tickets was Donna Tamasese, who had been in line for about 2 hours. She said she originally was only going to buy for her brother, Joel Peralto, who was flying in from Hilo for the subregional, "but I decided I should go, too," she said.

Junior Donovan Martinez was the first student to take advantage of the free ticket offering. Shoji had purchased 100 for UH Manoa students, who had been getting in free this season; some of those tickets are still available at the box office.

Shoji said if the Wahine win Thursday, he will buy another 100 for students for Friday’s second round.