The opening act will be the main event when the UC San Diego and Hawaii volleyball teams meet tonight in the Stan Sheriff Center.

This will be the season opener for both Mountain Pacific Sports Federation teams. In the past, the Warriors would play nonconference matches leading into the MPSF schedule.

“We’re going right into it,” UH head coach Charlie Wade said.

The Tritons left San Diego on Wednesday morning, and were scheduled to practice for 2 hours that night.

“You certainly feel a little bit rushed because the conference match is right off the bat, and we haven’t had a chance to really get going outside of the competition of our own practice gym,” UC San Diego coach Kevin Ring said.

Neither team has been able to compile a complete scouting report. The Tritons lost four starters from last year’s team. The Warriors are without last year’s top two attackers (opposite Jonas Umlauft and left-side hitter Joshua Walker) and setter (Nejc Zemljak). Middle blocker Shane Welch, who started 20 matches in 2011, will not play because of a knee injury.

“It will be tough going in, for them as well as us,” Ring said.

Because of instability at the opposite position last year, the Tritons sometimes went with a 6-2 scheme involving two setters. Phil Bannon has completed his eligibility, opening the way for Mike Brunsting to start in the traditional one-setter scheme.

Carl Eberts, who averaged a team-high 3.17 kills a game, and Vaun Lennon, who was used mostly as a serving specialist, will open on the left side. Scott Metzger, a transfer from Saint Louis, is expected to start at opposite. Sebastian Brady and Greg Smith are the No. 1 middles, and Chase Frishman is the libero.

“We don’t have one superstar guy we can serve a lot of balls to,” Ring said. “We’re a team that needs to be balanced in our offense. For us to do that, we need to pass really well, and get our middles involved. In recent years, we definitely have improved in that area in extending rallies.”

The Warriors also will embrace a share-the-wealth approach. Last year, the middles were decoys because 1) Umlauft and Walker took 65.5 percent of the swings and, 2) inconsistent passing negated the quick sets.

During fall training, the Warriors passed accurately, an improvement that should provide more options for setter Sam Biscaro.

“There’s not one guy you have to go to every match,” Biscaro said. “We’ll have a completely different look. Hopefully, it will be a fun brand of volleyball to watch.”

Steven Hunt, a left-side hitter who was a primary passer last year, is expected to receive more sets. Jan-Philipp “J.P.” Marks, a 6-6 freshman from Germany who can touch 11 feet 7, is the other left-side hitter. Johann Timmer, a 6-6 freshman from New Zealand, is the opposite. Nick West, a transfer from UC Irvine, and fifth-year senior Jarrod Lofy will start in the middle. Nick Castello is the libero.

“We’re pretty pleased,” Wade said. “With all of these (first-year starters), it’s: What happens when the lights go on and they go into a game? Can they make it happen? We think they’re going to be fine.”

After redshirting in 2010 and appearing in 28 matches last year, Biscaro has been handed the keys to the offense. At 6-4, he is expected to help the UH block.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Biscaro said.