Senior All-American middle Taylor Averill put down 13 kills with no hitting errors and junior hitter Siki Zarkovic added nine as the Hawaii men’s volleyball  team opened the season with a 25-19, 25-14, 25-23 sweep of Stevens Institute of Technology Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. 

The 10th-ranked Rainbow Warriors (1-0) outblocked the Division III Ducks (0-1) 8-1 with Averill in on five. Sophomore setter James Francikovic had 31 assists and a team-high six digs.

Senior hitter Ryan Seifert led Stevens with 15 kills and 11 digs. Senior hitter David Evans added 13 kills. 

Hawaii had little trouble with Stevens, including a dominating performance in Set 2. Leading 17-14, 5he Rainbow Warriors used an 8-0 run to close out Set 2, with Zarkovic serving the final seven points.

Hawaii next hosts the 21st Outrigger Resorts Invitational Thursday through Sunday. UC Irvine faces Penn State in Thursday’s 4 p.m. opener followed by Hawaii against Ohio State at 7 p.m.

Friday’s schedule has Ohio State against UC Irvine at 4 p.m. followed by Hawaii-Penn State. Sunday’s single match pits UC Irvine against Hawaii at 5 p.m.