Good but not good enough. Or consistent enough. Or great enough when needed.

Saturday’s season-ending loss to No. 3 Washington was a microcosm of No. 23 Hawaii’s play over its 29 matches. There was brilliance and balance but also lapses and letdowns.

Just as they were against the Huskies, the Rainbow Wahine were in all the matches they eventually lost, with perhaps the exception of the RPI-deflating sweep by host Cal State Northridge.

Among the highs? Dave Shoji celebrating his 40th campaign as the Rainbow Wahine coach, a year that included sweeping No. 21 Duke to open a 33rd consecutive NCAA tournament and recording the program’s 21st straight 20-plus win season.

Among the lows? Losing to all of the other five ranked teams played; falling out of the national rankings for the first time since 1992; and failing to earn at least a share of the conference title, a streak that dated back to 1994.

Whether Shoji returns for his 41st — "I haven’t made a decision yet," he said — his thoughts regarding 2015 began not long after Washington’s Krista Vansant put down aloha ball that put Hawaii back on the plane to Honolulu.

"I think we have a lot of room for improvement," Shoji said. "Each player coming back didn’t have their best match (Saturday and) needs to improve; otherwise they will be replaced by one of the current players or someone new coming in.

"If you analyze position by position, we need better lefts (left-side hitters), be more reliable on the right. And we’ll take a look at setter. Tayler (sophomore Higgins) played well at the end but still has to be better. Kendra (freshman Koelsch) has shown ability. It’s another area we need improvement."

The Wahine lose just three players from the current roster in seniors Kalei Adolpho and Sarah Mendoza, and redshirt junior Ginger Long, who is forgoing her fifth year. Long played sparingly against Washington but had a career night off the bench Friday in the victory over the Blue Devils.

Saturday, Adolpho had 10 kills with just one hitting error and was in on three blocks in her final volleyball match. (She is expected to again play for the Wahine basketball team in 2015-16).

Mendoza had 32 digs against the Huskies, setting a school record for a four-set match.

"I thought our two seniors had the best match of their careers," Shoji said after Saturday’s loss. "I’m so proud of both of them. I can’t say enough about the senior leadership they provided."

Besides the two setters, returning are all-conference hitters Tai Manu-Olevao, a current junior; sophomore Nikki Taylor and freshman Kalei Greeley. All-Big West middle Olivia Magill, among the national leaders in blocks and hitting percentage, also will be back. Freshmen Megan Huff, a middle who was converted to an outside hitter, and middle Emily Maglio will add to the depth up front.

Freshman Savanah Kahakai is the heir apparent to replace Mendoza. Also expected back are defensive specialists Katiana Ponce, a sophomore, and freshmen Clare-Marie Anderson and Gianna Guinasso.

Last month, Hawaii signed a talented trio in 6-foot-2 middle Annie Mitchem, the reigning junior college player of the year who is a sophomore at Irvine Valley (Calif.) College; Punahou All-State selection McKenna Granato, a 5-11 hitter; and 6-3 hitter/middle Casey Castillo out of Santa Fe Christian in the San Diego area.

Shoji said he wasn’t sure where any of the three would fit, especially Mitchem, who has been a six-rotation player for the Lasers under former Hawaii All-American Tom Pestolesi. Friday, Mitchem had 19 kills with no errors, hitting .826, in IVC’s win in the CCCAA State Championship quarterfinal, and 15 kills and 10 digs in Saturday’s semifinal sweep as IVC (26-0) ended Cabrillo College’s 62-match winning streak.

"It’s a good class," Shoji said. "We know what Mitchem can do and she could be in the middle or she could play on the left or on the right. The freshmen will be freshmen and fight for playing time just like everyone else."

The way the season ended was bittersweet, Shoji said. He felt his team had started to play its best volleyball at the end but were once against shipped to Washington to play in one of the toughest places in the country.

"It just might be the toughest place to play," he said. "It’s just like Nebraska and Penn State. With great fans and it was loud.

"I thought we showed we could compete with just about anybody in the country, but it was a monumental task. It was disappointing to be sent there again, to a place where basically they don’t lose."

Shoji is still working on the 2015 schedule. Headlining one of the three preseason tournaments will be Florida, Oregon State and perennial visitor UCLA. All three have advanced to this week’s regional semifinals.

Will Shoji be on the opposing bench nine months from now?

"I am not leaning one way or another at the moment," he said.