Disproving this is a cellars’ market, Hawaii surged to Saturday’s 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 volleyball victory over Pacific in the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Warriors kept their postseason hopes alive in winning their 33rd in a row over the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s last-place team. The Warriors have won all 23 matches between the teams on the Manoa campus.

"We knew our season depended on this match," said UH outside hitter Siki Zarkovic, whose 18 kills were one short of season high. "To get into the playoffs, we needed to win this match, and the rest of the matches this season."

The Warriors are 8-12 in the MPSF with four matches remaining. For playoff purposes, they are in the eighth position because California Baptist is not eligible for the MPSF’s eight-team postseason tournament. They face eighth-place UC Santa Barbara in matches this coming weekend.

The Warriors had difficulty in Friday’s match and stumbled in the first set of Saturday’s rematch. Outside hitter JP Marks, considered one of UH’s top all-around players, struggled with his passing again and was lifted.

Despite winning the second set to tie the match, UH coach Charlie Wade delivered a purposeful — and loud — speech during the 10-minute intermission before the third set.

"We did light into them in the break," Wade said. "I thought we lacked some energy. We said: ‘Look at the other side of the net. We have to exceed our opponents’ intensity.’

Zarkovic said: "I think we thought we were going to win easy. After the (break), we were fired up. I was fired up. We had to win. I said to myself: ‘Get things together. Your team needs you.’ "

The Warriors found strength from their reserves. Middle blocker Nick West, who had initially lost his starting role because of an abdominal strain, provided a boost in the third set. He had his handprints on three consecutive blocks, including a solo rejection to give the Warriors an 18-13 lead.

"I sat on the sideline and I thought, ‘It would be really cool if I got in there and got four blocks in five minutes,’ " said West, who was one off on his prediction. "I couldn’t have asked for a better way to come in and contribute."

Wade said: "He’s athletic and he’s dynamic. We’ve been working on Nick’s blocking. It was nice when he came in the third set. He blocked the ball. He’s been working hard on it. A couple of blocks he had bad technique, but he got his feet there, so again, it was good for him to contribute."

Jace Olsen, who replaced Marks in the lineup in the second set, helped settle the passing.

"He’s been working really hard and JP’s been struggling with his passing a little bit, and teams were targeting him," Wade said. "So I thought, ‘Let’s take (the passing) away from (Marks), and give it to Olsen, who has those big mitts.’ Jace did a nice job passing."

Wade added: "We’ve said all along, we’ve got some depth. It’s not depth if you let them stand back and cheer. We have to roll them out there and see what happens. We want to send the message: Who are the starters and who are the finishers?"

Opposite Brook Sedore, who had struggled with his serves, found his groove behind the service line and as an attacker from both pins and the back right.

Sedore slammed a career-high 22 kills.

The key?

"I’m not trying to go as hard as I can (with his swings)," Sedore said. "I have more control of it. I’m trying to hit some seams. It’s working out."

Pacific coach Joe Wortmann said: "Brook had a good match from both pins. It was good for them, not so good for us."

Marks returned as a front-row player for the final rotation of the fourth set. He slammed a kill to make it 24-19.

West then finished the match with a vicious kill.