Warriors fight off Pacific in 4

In a match that was a boost to its volleyball season — and confidence — Hawaii fought off Pacific, 25-22, 21-25, 19-25, 25-23 Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It didn’t go five," said UH coach Charlie Wade, referring to the program-record 11 matches that have gone the distance this season.

Wade was admittedly relieved after the Warriors repelled the Tigers’ frenetic comeback. The Warriors improved to 7-12 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, remaining in 10th place. The top eight advance to the MPSF playoffs. But California Baptist, which is tied for eighth, is a probationary member and not eligible for the postseason.

"We needed seven, and we got seven," Wade said of the Warriors’ MPSF victory total. "Hopefully, we can get eight (in the rematch)."

With five league matches remaining, Wade is not certain of the total needed for a playoff spot.

"I know it’s not seven," he said. "Maybe 10? In order to get there, we needed this. We can’t get to eight without getting to seven."

The Warriors (8-14 overall) nearly went to a fifth set after imploding in the third set and trailing late in the fourth. The Warriors’ block disappeared in the final two sets and their best all-around player, outside hitter JP Marks, was on the sideline after struggling with his passing and hitting accuracy.

"It was our fault," UH outside hitter Siki Zarkovic noted. "We let them back in."

The Tigers (6-14, 3-13) took a 22-21 lead in the fourth set when Zarkovic was blocked on consecutive plays. Then Joby Ramos went a third time to Zarkovic at the left pin. This time Zarkovic angled a kill past the double block to tie it at 22.

As Zarkovic walked behind the service line, Marks, who was lifted in the third set, re-entered as a blocking replacement for Ramos. After a long rally, libero Matthew Cheape, on his knee pads, set Marks on the left side. Marks blasted a kill to put the Warriors ahead 23-22.

Jace Olsen, who started the fourth set in place of Marks, then managed to puncture a double-block for a kill.

Pacific’s Matthew Houlihan extended aloha ball with a kill.

Then after a UH timeout, Peter Edwards served into the net to end the match.

It was the Warriors’ 32nd victory in a row over Pacific, and 22nd in a row on the Manoa campus, to improve to 40-1 overall.

Zarkovic and opposite Brook Sedore each finished with 16 kills. Wade praised Zarkovic’s tough serving late in the fourth set.

"I tried to push myself to the limit," Zarkovic said. "When the team needed me the most, I tried not to fail them. I gave my best. I was concentrating at a high percentage. I wanted to serve as good as possible to give ourselves a chance."

Olsen, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Penn State, also was helpful in place of Marks.

"Jace came in and passed," Wade said. "They started going after JP. Jace has those big ol’ frying-pan hands. He came in and did a nice job for us and really steadied us out."

Olsen also provided vocal leadership.

"If you listen to him, he’s always dialoguing and encouraging guys and just having good leadership," Wade said. "It’s good to have him on the floor."

Olsen said: "We’re a team of scrappers. We don’t back down."

UH middle Taylor Averill contributed 11 kills (against no errors) and hit .324. He had kills on his first eight swings, including a misdirection shot when the block went left and he hit right.

"Early on, he was really good," Wade said. "They were committing on him, and he still managed to score."

The Warriors did not have a block after getting their third on the 12th point of the second set.

Still, Zarkovic said: "In the end, it ended like how it was supposed to end."