From afterthought to “think again” in 72 hours. That’s how long it took for the Hawaii women’s volleyball team to return to the national discussion.

The Rainbow Wahine opened the season with three victories, including two over ranked teams, in last weekend’s Hawaiian Airlines Classic. What particularly opened the eyes of the coaches voting in the Top 25 poll was Hawaii’s fairly convincing 25-20, 25-12, 20-25, 25-16 win over then-No. 13 Washington on Sunday, one in which the Wahine had 18 blocks against the Huskies.

Even the American Volleyball Coaches Association tweeted “ICYMI” and linked to the story posted on the UH athletics website prior to announcing the poll. Some of the voters may have sent in ballots before Sunday’s outcome — the match finished after midnight Eastern time — but enough paid attention, moving Hawaii from the “also receiving votes” in the preseason poll to No. 20 in Monday’s first regular-season rankings.

It is the first time that Hawaii (3-0) is ranked in the regular-season poll since the final poll of 2016. The Wahine finished at No. 17 in what would be Dave Shoji’s 42nd and last season as Wahine coach.

In 2017, the Wahine were preseason No. 20 but fell out after an 0-3 start in coach Robyn Ah Mow’s first season. Hawaii remains No. 5 in the AVCA’s all-time weeks-ranked listing (currently 501) dating back to the poll’s inception in 1982, trailing Nebraska (544), Stanford (544), UCLA (518) and USC (514).

The 3-0 start is Hawaii’s best since 2015.

Besides upsetting Washington, the Wahine also picked up five-set wins over then-No. 21 San Diego and St. John’s.

“I would never get ahead of myself, but it feels good (to be 3-0),” Ah Mow said after Sunday’s win, Hawaii’s first over Washington since 2008. “It feels good for this one (over Washington) because the girls worked hard.

“It’s not about being 3-0. It’s about growing each game, and they did.”

In Monday’s poll, the Huskies dropped three places to No. 16 and the Toreros four places to No. 25.

Hawaii is one of six 3-0 ranked teams. The others are Penn State (6), Pitt (10), Marquette (11), Michigan (14) and Utah (19).

West Virginia, coached by former Hilo High standout Reed Sunahara, is also 3-0. The Mountaineers play Hawaii on Sept. 12 in the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Challenge.

Defending national champion Stanford (2-0) remained No. 1, receiving 63 first-place votes. National runner-up Nebraska (2-0) stayed at No. 2 with the other first-place vote.

Baylor (2-0), the only other ranked team on Hawaii’s schedule, moved up three spots to No. 17. The Bears host Hawaii and unranked Missouri (1-0) in their Invitational on Sept. 21-22.

Two-time defending Big West champion Cal Poly (0-3) was ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll. The Mustangs received 18 points today, tied for 33rd in the voting with Colorado.

Hawaii, the only ranked Big West program, continues its season with the Rainbow Wahine Invitational from Thursday through Sunday. The Wahine open with Army in Thursday’s second match, with Denver and Sacramento State in the 4:45 p.m. opener.