For the first test, the University of Hawaii volleyball team’s passing grade was 100 percent.

In passing 45 serves without an error, the Warriors established the middle attack and then defeated Stevens Institute of Technology in Saturday’s season opener.

"That was the setter’s dream right there," said setter Jennings Franciskovic, who rarely drifted outside the 3-meter line. "I didn’t have to move. I could run my offense. That was the ideal situation."

Middle blocker Taylor Averill took advantage of the quick sets, crushing 13 kills without an error, a performance that led to his selection as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s player of the week.

It all began with accurate passing — nails, in volleyball vernacular — from libero Kolby Kanetake and outside hitters Siki Zarkovic and Kupono Fey. With Averill, a rare middle who can play a rotation in the back row, and opposite Brook Sedore, who was trained as a left-side hitter, this is one of the Warriors’ best ball-handling rotations in several years.

"That’s a big reason we hit so well," said UH coach Charlie Wade, whose Warriors committed three attack errors in the three-set sweep.

Fey, a sophomore, received nine serves without an error and conjured four digs in the opener.

"That’s largely why Kupono’s in the game," Wade said. "He makes very few errors, and he’s a real steady passing guy."

This past summer, Fey and the liberos worked with the JUGS machine that fired volleyballs at up to 70 mph.

"You want to try to pass at faster speeds to make everything easier (in a match)," Fey said. "Coach told me that (accurate passing is) what’s going to get me on the floor."

It was improved health that kept Kanetake in the lineup. In October, Kanetake felt pain in his lower back when he reached for a barbell. "I felt this snap," Kanetake said.

A month later, Kanetake aggravated the condition during an exhibition match. An MRI showed a herniated disc, an ailment that led to Kanetake being shut down for the remainder of fall training.

Intensive rehabilitation enabled Kanetake to start in the opener. He said he feels twinges of pain sporadically, but "nothing too serious."

Then again, Kanetake is used to playing in discomfort. His elbows have fresh scars from floor burns suffered while making diving saves.

Last year, Kanetake was sometimes replaced against float servers. Kanetake admittedly passes better with his forearms than his hands. But Kanetake is doing better against floaters, passing with his hands on high serves or with his platform on short-arc attempts.

The Warriors face Ohio State in Thursday’s opening round of the Outrigger Resorts Invitational in the Stan Sheriff Center. They play Penn State on Friday and UC Irvine on Saturday.