Warriors survive Grand Canyon

The Hawaii men’s volleyball team went to great lengths — 2 hours, 49 minutes — to outlast Grand Canyon in five sets and end a four-match losing streak Friday night.

The scores were 25-27, 25-16, 25-21, 25-27, 15-12.

In winning this nonconference match before 1,590 in the Stan Sheriff Center, the Warriors improved to 3-5.

But the Warriors struggled to find consistency and a rhythm the entire night despite left-side hitter Steven Hunt’s 23 kills and libero Nick Castello’s career-high 22 digs.

The Warriors used a season-high 14 players, and started three different opposite attackers in the first three sets.

In the end, two unexpected offensive sources — opposite Taylor Averill and Nick West — provided the boost.

Averill had been limited in this week’s practice after undergoing a procedure to remove a cyst. Averill, who has trained at setter, put down 11 kills and contributed to three of the Warriors’ eight blocks. More important, his reach — he can touch 11 feet 6 — provided an imposing obstacle for the Antelopes’ left-side hitters.

Meanwhile, West provided substance to his usual eclectic style, slamming a season-high 13 kills with no errors in 20 swings.

The first-to-15 fifth set mirrored the match’s theme. The Warriors raced to a 6-4 lead thanks to Hunt’s rejuvenated jump serves. But the Antelopes then took advantage of the Warriors’ inconsistency to tie it at 9 and then 10.

The Warriors burned both of their allotted timeouts before either team reached double figures.

The Warriors led 13-12 when West slammed a kill to set up aloha ball.

The match ended when Grand Canyon’s Jordan Tarantino hit into the net.

“It was nice we were able to steady out, especially when we played 14 players,” UH coach Charlie Wade said. “It’s good to have that depth. But we had to go with that depth when you’re not playing well. Credit Grand Canyon. They made us keep fighting.”

The Warriors squandered a 10-3 lead in the third set and a 14-11 advantage in the fourth set, in which they served twice for set point.

“We need to do more (in the rematch) to finish sets,” Wade said. “That’s been going on all season. We need to finish out sets. We play good until we hit 20, and we’re not closing out.”

Wade had to get creative. In the third set, he called for a double-switch, replacing setter Sam Biscaro with Averill. Dominic Lilie then entered to play setter. Lilie served four consecutive points to give the Warriors control.

Averill might be the answer in the recent search for an opposite. Johann Timmer, who started the first six matches, has battled an ankle injury and a staph-like infection.

Harrison Carroll started at opposite for UH on Friday, but, at 6 feet 1, he was used more as a defensive specialist. Carroll had two kills and hit .400, but was replaced when the Warriors needed a taller block.

Ben Ponnet led the Antelopes with 23 kills. Tarantino added 21.