Hawaii is a perennial national title contender. Every year they make the NCAA Tournament and every year they crush opponents' dreams of tournament success.

There are easier paths to take to get to the Final Four, but the No. 15 Illinois volleyball team (26-6) wouldn't want it any other way when they take on No. 2 Hawaii (34-1) at 11 p.m. CST in Honolulu in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of Friday's match will advance Saturday to face the winner of the No. 7 Georgia Tech (33-3) and No. 10 California (25-6) match.

"We don't want to be excited to be out there and play Hawaii," Illinois junior libero Lauren Harks said. "We're ready to go out there, and we are ready to compete. We want to get out there and beat Hawaii."

Hawaii has won three national championships under head coach Dave Shoji. The Rainbow Wahine were ranked in the top 10 16 of the last 20 years, and in the top five 12 times.

Hawaii lost its second match of the season to undefeated No. 1 USC. Since then the Rainbow Wahine have won 33 matches in a row. Only five times this season has Hawaii played beyond three games. The Rainbow Wahine dominance does not faze the Illini.

"If we win on Friday we will take over that seed, which is going to be awesome and that will put us in great position come Saturday," junior setter Erin Virtue said.

Hawaii's offense is centered around senior outside hitter Kim Willloughby (6.84 kills a game). When freshman setter Kanoe Kamaua'o deviates from setting Willoughby, senior outside hitter Lily Kahmaku (4.41 kills) sees the ball come her way.

"Everybody tries to think about how they are going to stop (Willoughby) and no one has been able to do it yet," Illinois head coach Don Hardin said.

"We can compete with the best," Harks said. "(We're) not thinking Hawaii. It is just another gym, like going to Penn State. We just can't think of it as Hawaii."

Illinois enters the Sweet Sixteen, for the first time since 1998, playing its best volleyball of the season. Illinois swept Murray State and No. 20 Louisville in the first two rounds and have won nine of their last ten matches.

The Illini left Wednesday for Honolulu to begin preparing for Friday's match. While most visitors spend time on the beach in Hawaii, Harks said the Illini will spend most of their time indoors — on the court — preparing for Friday. With all the time on the court, the Illini will feel as comfortable as if the match was in Huff Hall.

"We'll be able to get acclimated to the atmosphere," Virtue said. "It would get us to go through (Thursday) just like any other day. Friday will be just like any other game day."

A win Friday against Hawaii would put the Illini one match away from the Final Four. The last time Illinois went to the Final Four was in 1988.

"It would be another stepping stone for us to go out there and beat Hawaii at Hawaii," Harks said. "If we win we can't be satisfied with just beating Hawaii. We have to be ready for Saturday night and beat them too, whoever that may be. It would be big for the program."