Energized and entertaining. It was everything that an international volleyball exhibition should be and more.

On an AYSO kind of night where Hawaii played everyone except for sophomore hitter Nikki Taylor, the Rainbow Wahine had a chance to take chances with lineups and rotations against Toyota Auto Body of Japan. The Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 2,558 even saw two UH front-row players make rare visits to the service line against the Queenseis.

In the end, the Japanese pros were just a little better at the little things in turning back Hawaii 27-25, 25-19, 21-25, 20-25, 15-10. Rika Kawashima put down 15 kills, Aya Takeuchi added 14 and libero Kaori Nakamura had 21 of the team’s 81 digs.

Hawaii’s defense was exceptional as well, finishing with 74 digs — 18 by senior libero Sarah Mendoza — and 11 blocks. Freshman Kalei Greeley had a match-high 16 kills, Olivia Magill added 11 kills and Tai Manu-Olevao 10 kills to go with 10 digs.

Toyota won the service battle, with five aces to none for Hawaii. The Wahine also had 16 service errors to 15 for the Queenseis.

"I thought to play as well as we did against that level of competition was impressive on our part," sophomore setter Tayler Higgins said after finishing with 43 assists and 11 digs. "It showed us what we are capable of. Even though we had a number of lineups out there, we played well together and we improved on a lot of things."

The Wahine went to a 6-2 lineup at times, alternating setters Higgins and freshman Kendra Koelsch in the back row. It allowed for three attackers and a different look in the front row.

"It was super fun tonight," said Koelsch, finishing with 11 assists. "The Japanese played really inspired ball control. They were so consistent.

"That’s something for us to work on as a team. They went for everything. We’ve got to get that same drive, that same mind-set."

While Hawaii coach Dave Shoji planned to sit out Taylor, who missed the first seven matches with a hyper-extended elbow, the concern now is for freshman defensive specialist Savannah Kahakai. She injured her right knee in Set 2 and is scheduled to have an MRI Thursday.

Otherwise, Shoji was pleased by the overall performance Wednesday night.

"I had no idea how we were going to do against a very good professional team," He said. "We knew we could contend with them after that first set."

Hawaii played well enough to win Set 1, leading most of the way as 10 Wahine saw the court. Middles Magill and Kalei Adolpho combined for eight kills with no errors on 13 swings.

Toyota’s defense kept them within striking distance as did the deceptively quick armswing of Kawashima. Kawashima capped a 3-0 run with her fifth kill to tie it at 23.

Adolpho’s third kill gave Hawaii set point and a tap-back of an overpass by Greeley appeared to have ended it. But instead Greeley was called for a questionable overreach to tie it.

The Wahine had another swing at 25-24 only to have Kawashima put down her sixth kill for another tie. The Queenseis used a UH hitting error and a kill by Takeuchi to take the set.

The Wahine’s planned revolving door continued in Set 2 against the Japanese pros. The Queenseis trailed early but continued to ride the arm of Kawashima and the solid defense headed by Nakamura.

By the time that Toyota had taken a 2-0 advantage with a 25-19 win, Kawashima had 11 kills, Nakamura 11 digs and the Wahine had played 14 of their available players.

Set 3 saw Hawaii got to a 6-2 lineup, alternating setters Higgins and Koelsch in the back row, as well as giving Magill and and Megan Huff rare serving time. The loudest cheer from the Wahine bench came when the 6-foot-1 Magill came up with a dig that Hawaii eventually converted for an 18-15 lead.

UH evened the match with solid all-around performances in Set 4. Set 5 got away early as Toyota jumped to an 8-4 lead and was never threatened.

Hawaii finishes out its nonconference season with 7 p.m. matches Friday and Saturday against Northern Arizona (9-0).