Outside hitter Jay Petty cashed in 22 kills to help Lewis outlast Hawaii in five sets Friday night in the second round of the Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational.
The scores were 25-21, 25-11, 16-25, 23-25, 15-11.
The Flyers, whose lineup includes five starters from a year ago, improved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in this round-robin tournament.
The Warriors, who fell to 2-2 and 1-1, face UCLA, a three-set winner over Springfield (Mass.), in tonight’s final round. UCLA, unbeaten in this tournament, is seeking its seventh Outrigger title.
The Warriors had beaten Lewis in five previous meetings, including four times in five-set matches. But the Warriors, who were thoroughly outplayed in the first two sets, had used their allotment of comebacks on this Friday the 13th.
In the first two sets, the Warriors scored only six points on their 33 serves, and accumulated only nine digs.
The extended intermission between the second and third sets usually serves as a cooling-off period. Instead, the Warriors came away refreshed, serving tougher, activating their blocks, and playing better defense.
"It was pretty frustrating being down 0-2," UH libero Nick Castello said. "We were frustrated in the locker room. We could have quit. … It’s better to learn these lessons now."
The Warriors were able to absorb the Flyers’ best shots in the third and fourth sets.
In the fourth set, there were several key plays. Steven Hunt, who has emerged as a go-to hitter, blasted a quick set from the back row to give the Warriors a 15-14 lead.
Later, after the Flyers scored three in a row to close to 21-20, UH middle blocker Jarrod Lofy rejected Aaron Flick’s spike.
The fourth set concluded with J.P. Marks’ thunderous cross-court kill.
But Lewis regrouped in the first-to-15 fifth set.
The Flyers were able to re-establish their block — they finished with 13 — and track Hunt.
Leading 13-11, the Flyers moved to aloha ball when opposite attacker Ian Karbiener hit a sizzling shot down the left sideline.
The Flyers closed the match when Karbiener and Flick collaborated on a double block of a Hunt kill attempt.
"Obviously, we have work to do," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "I’m proud of the way we battled back and turned it around. (Set) One, we were rolling, and we hit a couple out, and it went downhill from there. This team needs to play more. You saw that as we played more."
Castello came up with 13 digs. Hunt finished with 17 kills.
"The first hour was pretty disappointing," Wade said of the match, which lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes. "The second hour was entertaining. In a 15-point set, it could go either way."
Castello said the Warriors need to be more consistent with their passing.
"It starts with me," Castello said, but added, "it’s so early (in the season). These (matches) mean nothing. We need to come back and play well."