As for the RPI … perhaps Shoji hasn’t figured out how to ‘game the system’ but that still doesn’t mean he can get those teams who would help ‘game it ‘s come out here. He scheduled who he scheduled, thinking they’d be better than they ended up being. Bakersfield for 2 because that was who was able to come out during that week.
The Big West coaches have discussed trying to get everyone to upgrade their schedules but doesn’t mean they can afford to or will.
That comes into play obviously. But UH has no control over how their opponents schedule, or the outcomes of those matches.

Through games of November 9th:

If the 2 Bakersfield games were removed, and Hawaii had a bye week, Hawaii would be #30 in the RPI.
If the 2 Bakersfield games were replaced with 2 Div II victories, Hawaii’s RPI would be #32, as it is now.

The difference here is that Hawaii currently has 11 non-conference games, with 5 opponents in the top 75 unadjusted RPI. If the Bakersfield games are removed completely, and not replaced, Hawaii has 9 non-conference games, and those 5 opponents under 75 unadjusted RPI gives the double bonus to Hawaii. But, adding the Division II opponents puts Hawaii back at 11 non-conference games and the double bonus is removed.

I don’t track any games against non-Division 1 opponents as the only affect it has is on the very few teams (mostly HBCU’s) that either lose to the Division 2 teams, or the non-conference percentage causes issues. (Butler, for instance, beat a Division 2 team, and their noncon schedule slightly suffers because they have 6/13 instead of 6/12 in the top 75 unadjusted RPI.). Also, if you lose to a Division 2 school, that is automatically in the “bad-loss” double penalty category.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/Pq9BT_YiXEex4PJuQeX6VQ/maxpreps-2015-national-volleyball-player-of-the-year-watch-list.htm

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/20151109/socal-prep-legends-girls-athlete-of-the-week-emma-smith-mira-costa