The Hawaii volleyball team hopes history repeats itself tonight — and then again Saturday night — in road matches against Pacific.

The Warriors have a 38-1 advantage in this series between Mountain Pacific Sports Federation teams, including victories in the past 14 matches at the Spanos Center.

What’s more, the Warriors (4-5, 1-3 MPSF) might have found the answer at opposite attacker. The Warriors have used five players at opposite, a position that hits mostly on the right side.

Taylor Averill, a sophomore who transferred from UC Irvine last summer, has emerged as the most effective opposite. In the past 11 sets he started, he is averaging 3.0 kills and 1.1 blocks.

"He gives us a little different skill set with his blocking," head coach Charlie Wade said.

Averill’s blocking improved overnight. He had zero blocks in his first 13 sets through six matches. After the first of two matches against Pepperdine, Wade summoned Averill. Wade’s message: "Simple it up, man. The focus is more on your guy. The other stuff is help."

Wade said Averill was concerned with helping the middle on opponents’ quick sets to the middle of the back row and to the left pin.

In the rematch against Pepperdine, Averill had two solo blocks.

"It wasn’t a lot of blocks, but you could tell he was touching balls and slowing stuff down, and (the Waves) have good left-side hitters," Wade said. "You could tell he was thinking, ‘I got it now.’ "

The previous two years, All-America opposite Jonas Umlauft was able to slam D sets from the back right. Umlauft did not return to UH for his junior season.

"We’re not getting a ton of production with the D ball," Wade said. "Apparently, it’s a lot harder than Jonas made it look."

Wade’s solution was to sometimes use Averill as a passer or second setter when he is in the back row.

Averill, who also practices as the backup setter, said he is improving with his block reads.

"We get really good coaching, and we work hard every day," Averill said.

Averill’s optimism is befitting of his nickname, "Sunshine." He said he enjoys Hawaii’s lifestyle, and his favorite meal is a loco-moco.

The egg, Averill said, "is always sunny-side up."