In an extended preview, the University of Hawaii volleyball team outlasted Canada’s Thompson Rivers University 25-18, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 23-25 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

A crowd of 1,060 witnessed the Rainbow Warriors clinch the match after the fourth set. Because this was an exhibition, both teams agreed to play five full sets even if a team had already won three.

The Warriors, who lost in four sets on Thursday, played with improved passing, serving and energy in Saturday’s rematch. It was the Warriors’ second match of 2014, a prelude to this week’s Outrigger Hotels Invitational.

The WolfPack entered the series having played 12 matches in Canada’s best intercollegiate conference.

The Warriors unraveled because of poor passing in Thursday’s match, mostly because libero Kolby Kanetake had been unavailable early because of a medical issue. With Kanetake available from the first serve on Saturday, the Warriors’ passing was on the mark, providing setter Joby Ramos with several options.

The Warriors cashed in, hitting a combined .500 in the first two sets.

The Warriors did not commit an attack error in 22 swings in the first set. Their first attack error came in the second set, on their 48th swing, when freshman opposite Iain McKellar hit into a double block. The Warriors finished that set when Siki Zarkovic hit long. They did not commit their third attack error until the third set.

"We played at a really high level for a long time, even though we had a revolving door going on," UH coach Charlie Wade said of the numerous lineup changes. "That was good to see."

Seventeen Warriors played. In the fifth set, all but middle blocker Taylor Averill were freshmen.

The Warriors’ experienced players led the way.

Zarkovic, a sophomore who played only two sets, had 10 kills in 14 swings and hit .643.

Middle blocker Nick West had seven kills and no errors.

Opposite Brook Sedore added nine kills and splotches of blood after a tumble. The four-minute stoppage to disinfect the floor was the longest break of the night. There was no extended break between the second and third sets, and the chilly conditions required no sweat-cleaning after plays.

After the second set, Wade began to mix and match lineups.

Freshman Kupono Fey had a breakout performance in the third set, when he put down five kills in seven swings, assisted on two kills, and made a lunging save while defending the middle during his rotation in the back row.

"Kupono Fey continues to impress," Wade said.

By playing in the exhibition, Fey relinquished any thoughts of redshirting this season.

"It’s over since I got in," said Fey, a 2013 Punahou graduate.

Of the opportunity to compete in the rotation at left-side hitter, Fey said: "That’s the plan now. It was a lot of fun getting out there and playing with the other freshmen."

Each of the newcomers had his moments. McKellar, who redshirted last year, had three kills. Hendrik Mol, a freshman left-side hitter from Norway, contributed eight kills. Jennings Franciskovich, a freshman setter, made an easy transition after subbing for Ramos. Middle blocker Zach Radner added five kills, hit .500 and contributed a block in his fifth-set appearance.

Radner provided the loudest hits, off a compact swing.

At 6 feet, 8 inches and 240 pounds, Radner is built like a football defensive end. But he has a 31.5-inch vertical jump.

"I’m pretty good at using my weight to get up there," Radner said. "I’m a pretty big boy, but I can get up there."

HAWAII DEF. THOMPSON RIVERS 25-18, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 23-25

WOLFPACK (8-4)

RAINBOW WARRIORS (0-0)

Key — s: games; k: kills; e: hitting errors; att: attempts; pct: hitting percentage; d: digs; bs: block solo; ba: block assists; pts: points (kills plus blocks plus aces). Service Aces — Thompson Rivers 5 (Gunter 2, Knight, Ozari, Stoliker). Hawaii 8 (Sedore 2, West 2, Ramos, Averill, Timmer, Fey). Service errors — Thompson Rivers 26 (Tricarico 6, Gunter 4, Ozari 4, Knight 3, Carson 2, Stoliker 2, Wooldridge 2, Richey 2, Majcher). Hawaii 20 (Ramos 5, Timmer 3, Mol 3, Sedore 2, Olsen 2, Averill, Zarkovic, Hartley, McKellar, Fey). Assists — Thompson Rivers 54 (Carson 31, Stoliker 19, Krueger 2, Ozari, Tricarico). Hawaii 65 (Ramos 41, Franciskovic 16, Fey 3, Averill 2, Kanetake 2, Sedore). T — 2:07. Officials — Dan Hironaka, Ernie Ho. A — 2,208.