Hawaii’s volleyball depth will be on display during exhibition matches against Nittaidai of Japan on Friday and Sunday in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Although the Warriors are expected to open each set with their usual starters, the exhibition will provide match experiences for developing players.

"A lot of people will get playing time, for sure," UH associate head coach Jeff Hall said. "It’s an opportunity to play more people because it doesn’t count in our league. But we’re going to start most of our (usual) starters. We want to win. This is a young team that still needs to learn how to win. The best way to do it is to actually experience it."

Hall said setter Sam Biscaro and opposite attacker Taylor Averill will continue to work on their timing. Averill had practiced at both setter and opposite for most of the season. But now that he is installed as the No. 1 opposite, where he hits on the right side in five rotations, Averill is not in the mix at setter for the immediate future.

"Right now, our most pressing need is to get right-side production to help us become a better-balanced team," Hall said. "We think (Averill is) the top candidate. There are some guys right behind him. He needs more reps on the right side. He’s getting better every day. … He’s played a lot of volleyball for USA Volleyball. It’s not like (playing opposite) is foreign to him. He just hasn’t had a lot of collegiate reps on the right side."

In fall training, Johann Timmer was the No. 1 opposite, with the jumping ability to touch above the antennae. He suffered an ankle injury near the end of fall training and, after starting the first five matches, suffered a staph-like infection. Hall said Timmer is progressing to the level he reached before the ankle injury.

Middle blocker Shane Welch, who has not played in a match this season after suffering a knee injury, is back to full health.

"He’s ready to go," Hall said.

At 6 feet 10, Welch is the tallest Warrior.

"You can’t teach that," Hall said. "And he’s athletic. He still has a lot of work to do to beat out (Nick West and Jarrod Lofy)."

In the past match against UCLA, Scott Hartley was used as a libero. Hartley is back at outside hitter, where he will get some work this weekend. Setter Dominic Lile, who usually is brought in for three rotation turns, outside hitter Stanley Hinkle and middle blocker Davis Holt will get extended playing time in the exhibitions.