The women's volleyball team from BYU-Hawaii won its third straight - and seventh in 11 years - National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship Dec. 7 in San Diego, Calif.

The Seasiders opened the 1996 season with the mind-set of victory; they had at least three good reasons to do so: the athletes, the coaches and the tradition of success that prompted this year's motto, "Humble, But Ready To Rumble."In 1977 BYU-Hawaii fielded its first women's volleyball program. Nine years later, in 1986, the team won its first national title. In less than a decade, the program was competing at a level of excellence that has become the BYU-Hawaii standard.

The '96 season began with an underestimation. The NAIA ranked the Seasiders No. 13 in the preseason because five members of last year's national championship team were not returning. Four weeks later, pollsters realized that even with five freshman (two of whom are now starters) this was still a national powerhouse team.

"The girls were aware of their ranking," said head coach Wilfred Navalta. "But we didn't focus on that. If anything, it served as a motivation for us to work harder."

After some very exciting matches, the 13-member team ended the regular season in early November, ranked No. 1.

One of the most exciting games this season was an exhibition match with the Japanese national team Nittaidai. After beating teams like the University of Southern California and UCLA, Nittaidai made its way to Hawaii. The Nov. 2 match between the two teams saw the Seasiders sweep a powerful Nittaidai in three games.

BYU-Hawaii's Seasiders used the momentum after that game to take them through the conference championship. Winning the conference championship gave Coach Navalta his ninth conference championship in 10 years and qualified the team to compete once again in the NAIA Tournament for the national title Dec. 4-7.

Despite a slow start following a one-month layoff, the Seasiders began pool play at the 17th annual NAIA Women's Volleyball Championship by winning their first two matches. The turning point of the season came in their third match of pool play against Peru State - the Seasiders lost in five games. The breakdown resulted in the first and only loss in 52 consecutive matches.

After the game, the team wanted to make one thing clear: they had learned from their mistakes and it would not happen again. It didn't.

BYU-H entered the tournament's quarterfinals as the No. 1 seed and never looked back. After hard-earned victories over Madonna University and Columbia College, the Seasiders defeated the unseeded host team from Point Loma Nazarene College 15-9, 15-9 and 15-10 in the finals. They ended their 30-1 season with a third consecutive NAIA national championship.

"The greatest thing about our team is that we all realize the success is not all ours," Becky Laubach said. "We all know that the talents we have been given come from Heavenly Father."

Church members say the volleyball team has been a great source of strength for them. Possibly the most notable growth came from Becky Laubach.

"I didn't even want to go to BYU-H," admitted the 6-foot junior from Wai`anae, Hawaii. "I wanted to prove my independence and leave the island like all the other local kids."

Her spiritual growth began when Coach Navalta began recruiting. At that time she turned to her mother, Punipuao Mapo Weaver, for help. Her mother referred her to the Lord.

"It was one of the first really tough decisions that I had to rely on prayer to make," she said. "I'm so glad I came to BYU-Hawaii. I have found so much strength here."

The most impressive fact comes after a quick review of her collegiate career. She was crucial to the team's three consecutive national titles and grabbed her third straight All-American honor this year. Before this year's national tournament she made a startling announcement to her coach.

"Coach, I won't be returning for my senior year . . . at least not next year."

After a great pause, Coach Navalta asked why.

"I turned in my mission papers today."

She decided to give up all the accolades of her senior season to serve a mission.

"It was like a big test," she said. "A test to see if I could put Him first above volleyball, family, and friends - put it all behind me and serve Him. I don't think that I am quitting. I realized that all the Becky-hype has just been in the last three years. As quick as it has come it will end too. The way that I see it is that I have been recruited to play for an even better team in a more serious battle."