Some things need no translation.

Ace. Block. Dig. Dump.

The one volleyball term that didn’t make it into the exhibition lexicon Tuesday night was “sweep.”

Still, Hawaii had the last word when it took on All Osaka at the Stan Sheriff Center. That being “win.”

Led by outside hitter McKenna Granato’s 18 kills and a block that stifled the smaller Japanese all-star team for much of the 2 hours and 15 minutes, the Rainbow Wahine prevailed 25-15, 25-20, 20-25, 21-25, 15-11.

Middle Emily Maglio added 17 kills with just one error, and setter Norene Iosia had four of Hawaii’s six aces.

A weather-braving crowd of 824 watched an impressive defensive battle, with the teams combining for 145 digs, 23 by Osaka libero Natsumi Kawaguchi. The Japanese finished with a 79-66 edge in digs, with hitters Ai Tsunada adding 19 to go with 12 kills and Rina Takeo 10 along with her match-high 24 kills.

Libero Savanah Kahakai and defensive specialist Emma Smith had 14 digs apiece for the Wahine.

“It was better to go five than to have just go three,” Wahine associate head coach Jeff Hall said. “When it looked like we were going to lose Set 4, the mind-set was to embrace the fifth set. The goal was to finish.

“Osaka was more impressive than we were defensively. They are so fundamentally sound. We knew they weren’t going to hurt themselves.”

What did cause Osaka some pain was Maglio, who was in on nine of Hawaii’s blocks, with both of the team’s solos. Casey Castillo, moving from right to middle and back to right, was in on seven.

Hawaii used all 14 eligible players and seemingly as many combinations, with five defensive specialists seeing the court, including spring semester transfer Treyanna-Lee Freitas (Washington State).

Kahakai served the Wahine to a 3-0 lead in Set 5 and Hawaii then led 6-3. Osaka hung tough, tying at 7 on its second ace. Castillo’s kill put the Wahine up for good and, after the changeover, Castillo added another kill and then teamed with Natasha Burns for UH’s 13th block.

At 12-9, the game plan became “Set Maglio,” and she accounted for Hawaii’s final three points, a solo block sandwiched by two kills, including the match-ender.

“After Set 4, I could feel this vibe,” Kahakai said. “I told everybody, ‘If you have an attitude, fix it now.’ I think we did.”

Kahakai is one of four Wahine heading to the U.S. national team tryouts tonight. Joining her at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., are Annie Mitchem, Granato and Iosia.

“I think we did all the right things at the end,” said Iosia, good on five of her six dump shots. “Emma really stepped it up. I think our energy at the end is what won it for us.”

Hawaii next hosts Minnesota in an exhibition March 16 and Kansas on March 21.