The survival game has been on hold the past few days as Hawaii used a bye week to improve its skills, rest some weary arms and legs, and let some injuries heal as much as can happen this late in the volleyball season.

While the rest of the country continued beating up on each other — including both previously unbeaten No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Florida State going down Thursday — all the Rainbow Wahine can do is control what has been going on in Gym I. Following two days off, skills and drills on Wednesday gave way to skills and tactics Thursday, which gave way to skills and a scrimmage on Friday.

"It’s been nice to have a few days off and not play this week," senior middle Kalei Adolpho said. "Against (Cal State) Northridge (last Saturday), we knew it was do or die, that we needed to win to stay alive (for NCAA tournament contention).

"This week gives us a chance to keep improving. You can improve between balls, improve between sets, improve between games. We need to keep getting better because the next two weeks are very important."

Hawaii is at UC Santa Barbara Friday and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next Saturday. The Rainbow Wahine end the regular season at home against UC Riverside Nov. 28 and UC Davis Nov. 29, both matches at 8 p.m. following the Wahine basketball tournament doubleheader.

Hawaii, with a Ratings Percentage Index of 30, feels it might need to win out in order to be included in the 64-team field of the NCAA. The next RPI on Monday will be interesting considering that the three Pac-12 teams the defeated the Wahine during the nonconference season all lost Thursday: Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA.

While some thoughts are turned to next week, others are turned to next year. Hawaii officially received paperwork from one of three players who have committed for 2015 in Punahou’s McKenna Granato.

Shoji cannot comment on the other two before the paper work is received and cleared by the UH compliance office, but both Casey Castillo and Annie Mitchem had signing ceremonies at the respective California schools, Castillo on Wednesday at Santa Fe Christian High and Mitchem after Friday’s match at Irvine Valley College.

Granato is a 5-foot-10 outside hitter who helped lead the Buffanblu to a state title last Saturday. Castillo is a 6-3 hitter-middle and Mitchem, the reigning national junior college player of the year, is a 6-2 middle playing for former UH All-American Tom Pestolesi.

"We only lose one middle (Adolpho) and one back-row player (senior Sarah Mendoza) so we’ve definitely added to our depth," Shoji said. "I think Granato can come in right away and help us. She’s a little undersized but she has enough skills to contribute right away.

"But nothing is a given. Everyone has got to prove themselves in our gym, not in their high school or club gym. It’s about getting the best six players out there."

Punahou coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson feels that Granato could be one of those.

"I think she’ll add a lot of value to the team, not only because I think she’s going to be one of the great hitters to come out of their program but because she’s humble, unselfish and works really hard," said Fuamatu-Anderson, an All-American at Hawaii Hilo and 1993 NAIA Player of the Year. "She has really matured this past year and wants to continue to get better. UH is getting the full package."