The University of Hawaii volleyball team’s first step was a stumble.

The Rainbow Warriors opened their longest road trip with a 25-19, 25-17, 26-24 loss to sixth-ranked Stanford in the Maples Pavilion on Friday night.

Saturday’s rematch is a must-win designation for the Warriors, who are battling for one of eight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoff berths.

The Warriors, who entered tied for seventh with Stanford, fell into the ninth spot. They are 11-9 overall and 9-8 in the MPSF. The Cardinal improved to 13-7 and 10-7. The Warriors’ third consecutive loss could be capsulized in the third set when they lost despite holding leads of 22-18, 23-19 and 24-21.

Stanford outside hitter Steve Irvin recalled coach John Kosty imploring the Cardinal to remain calm.

"It’s always one point at a time," Irvin said in a post-match interview. "He said there was a lot of game left."

Outside hitter Brian Cook’s cross-court kill closed the Cardinal to 24-22. The deficit was reduced to a point when middle Spencer Haly and setter James Shaw teamed to block UH’s Siki Zarkovic.

After a UH timeout, Zarkovic hit wide left, tying the third set at 24.

Irvin then received a set on the left side and, with a flat-footed stance, hit an angle shot to the corner for a 25-24 Stanford lead.

"That was more luck than skill," Irvin said. "What’s that old saying? I’d rather be lucky than good?"

Then UH opposite Brook Sedore’s line shot struck the right antennae to end the match. Stanford opposite Eric Mochalski was the server for the final four points.

"I’d say the turning point was Mo’s first serve when he got them out of system," Irvin said. "And their best player Brook Sedore, who was killing us all night had those two key errors."

Sedore had a match-high 14 kills.

For most of the season, the Warriors’ attack has been built inside-out. But middle Taylor Averill, who is among the nation’s most efficient hitters, committed five errors in the first set.

He finished with three kills and hit minus-.200. Nick West, who started the first two sets, did not have a kill in his only swing. Davis Holt, who started the third set, had three kills in four swings.

Stanford was able to pass many of the Warriors’ best serves. "They go after it," Irvin said.

In system, Stanford was able to convert. Stanford sided out at 77 percent. The Warriors sided out at 58 percent.

"When we’re in system, we’re pretty unstoppable," Irvin said.

Stanford has won four in a row, claiming 12 of 13 sets.

Cook finished with 13 kills and Mochalski added 10.

After Saturday’s match, the Warriors travel to Stockton, Calif., ahead of matches against Pacific on Monday and Tuesday, completing a four-matches-in-five days road trip.

Service Aces — Hawaii 2 (Olsen 2). Stanford 6 (Shaw 3, Kaminski, Irvin, Mochalski).  Service errors — Hawaii 11 (Sedore 3, Averill 2, Zarkovic, Olsen, Timmer, Franciskovic, Fey, Holt). Stanford 13 (Kaminski 3, Shaw 3, Mochalski 3, Cook 2, Haly, Tublin). Assists — Hawaii 26 (Ramos 23, Franciskovic 2, Zarkovic). Stanford 38 (Shaw 30, Mochalski 3, Delgado 3, Cook, Haly). T — 1:33. Officials — Michael Yoshikawa, Ed Richardson.  A — 537.

Thursday
UC San Diego def. Cal Baptist, 25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-10

Friday
Stanford def. Hawaii, 25-19, 25-17, 26-24
BYU def. UC Irvine, 25-22, 25-22, 25-17
Penn State def. Cal State Northridge 25-17, 25-23, 25-20
Long Beach State def. Ohio State, 25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-11
Pepperdine def. UC Santa Barbara, 22-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 15-12

Saturday
Hawaii at Stanford, 4 p.m. HST
USC at UCLA
UC San Diego at BYU
Penn State at Long Beach State
Ohio State vs. CS Northridge at Long Beach State