There was no escaping the past as former Hawaii volleyball players conjured a 25-18, 23-25, 25-23 victory over the Warriors in the annual alumni match at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It was so easy," said Brian Beckwith, setter for the alumni team that went by "Rainbows" in the Sunday afternoon event. "It was a Sunday stroll in Kapiolani Park."

Of course, that was after both sides agreed to play to only three sets.

"That was their strategy," Beckwith said, smiling. "They knew they could beat us if the match went longer."

The Warriors were admittedly distracted and undermanned. They remain in the hunt for the final berth in eight-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs, a situation that rests heavily on road matches against UC San Diego this weekend. UH coach Charlie Wade rested three ailing starters.

"Hopefully they’ll be good by Friday," Wade said. "It made no sense to run them out there tonight. The (sets) on Friday still count."

UH assistant coach Sean Carney, meanwhile, began assembling the Rainbows a few months ago. Beckwith, middle blocker Delano Thomas and libero Vernon Podlewski were All-America selections. The Rainbows had 18 players, not including outside hitter Tony Ching, whose sore ankle kept him on a need-to-rub-it-in basis.

"Can you imagine if we had all of our alumni here?" Beckwith said, with mock bravado. "It would be so sad. The fans would be cheering for us to come back."

Opposite attacker Rory Brandt said of Beckwith: "He’s the best trash-talker — and he has the most fun out there."

To be sure, the mood was light. When Sivan Leoni served, Rainbows teammates did the familiar chant of "Woo-woo-wooooo." He served three consecutive points, including an ace, to tie the second set at 23.

What Leoni did not bring back from the past was his headband.

"I think my wife hid it," Leoni said.

In the third set, Podlewski jogged to public-address announcer Ben Kiaaina to request a shout-out to a Kaimuki High coach. But Podlewski did not call a timeout nor signal for a substitute. Carney slammed an apparent kill while Podlewski and Kiaaina chatted.

Wade then reminded the officials it was illegal for the Rainbows to have only five players on the court. The officials agreed, and the point was deducted from the Rainbows and awarded to the Warriors.

"It was a strategy to kind of keep the game close," Podlewski mused. "But, you know, we came back and had fun."

The Rainbows found inspiration from several sources. Brandt, a left-handed opposite, was able to navigate the block.

"It’s easy when you have Brian setting," Brandt said. "Brian sets the perfect set every time. I just swing away."

Thomas also did not appear to lose any of his power. He had six loud kills and three aces. Three other serves resulted in over-passes.

"He crushed his serve," Wade said.

Thomas played six years of pro volleyball before retiring three years ago. He is an EMT who is enrolled in a paramedics program in Sacramento. He is on track to become a firefighter.

"I wanted to get back into school and do that before my body was too broken from volleyball," Thomas said.

Of his performance, Thomas said, "It’s like riding a bike, right? It’s the best sport in the world. You can’t forget how to play."

Rainbows middle blocker Mauli‘a LaBarre, who is now a police officer, still carries 185 pounds on his 6-foot-9 frame.

"They told me I would gain 20 pounds in my first year in the police department," LaBarre said. "I gained none. I don’t know what happened. Hollow legs, maybe?"