Young Warriors, Waves face off today

Youth will be serving — and hitting and blocking and digging — when Hawaii and Pepperdine meet in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches today and Saturday in the Firestone Fieldhouse.

The Warriors have four first-year starters, including freshmen J.P. Marks and Johann Timmer.

Three true freshmen, including 2011 Punahou School graduate Josh Taylor, start for the Waves.

"Sometimes when people see freshmen, they don’t realize they’re redshirt freshmen," Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy said. "That’s not the case with these guys. They’re young, true freshmen. They’ll make some freshman mistakes, I’m sure."

The Waves split the season-opening series against Lewis, then won their first two MPSF matches, against Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge.

As always, the Waves have tall pin hitters, accurate passing and an active block.

But Dunphy cautioned the Waves are "a work in progress."

"There are some standards I’m fairly familiar with, and most people in volleyball are, that we need to meet to be a good team," Dunphy said. "We have yet to meet those standards."

Matt West, a freshman setter, is adjusting to the Waves’ high-ball offense. Taylor, who did not play as a Punahou senior because of a hand injury, leads the Waves with 4.59 kills per game.

The Warriors, who are 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the MPSF, are on their first road trip of the season.

"For us, we need to compete as much as possible this time of year," UH head coach Charlie Wade said. "We’re still learning, and we’re working on being efficient and playing at a high level."

Left-side hitter Steven Hunt has emerged as a go-to attacker. The two freshman pin hitters — Marks and Timmer — have passed well but have been streaky attackers.

"It’s ham and eggs," Wade said. "One night, somebody will play really well, and then the next night, not really well. If everyone plays to the best of their ability on the same night, we’re going to win a lot of matches."