This week, the University of Hawaii volleyball team moved practice from the afternoon to the evening to accommodate two players’ class schedules.

This season, the Warriors have made adjustments for injuries, inconsistency and two engineering majors’ school obligations.

"We’re flexible," said coach Charlie Wade, whose Warriors play road matches against Long Beach State Friday and Saturday in the spacious arena known as the Pyramid.

In a four-set victory over Cal State Northridge last weekend, outside hitter Siki Zarkovic and setter Alex Jones came off the sideline to provide a boost. Zarkovic had missed the previous five matches because of a high-ankle sprain. Jones, in his first extensive play of the season, faced the team that cut him a year earlier.

Zarkovic’s left ankle was admittedly tender in practices this week. Wade noted that Zarkovic is "available" for this weekend’s matches.

"He’s not 100 percent," Wade said. "He’s not jumping (as high) But he’s a good player. He can play at less than 100 percent and be pretty effective."

There is a strong likelihood Scott Hartley will open at that outside hitter position. Kupono Fey will start at the second outside spot. Hendrik Mol, who has hit well in practices this week, is another possibility.

Wade said there is depth at all of the positions, a luxury absent a few years ago. "In the past, it was like, ‘Here are your guys,’" said Wade, recalling a mid-match conversation with a former associate coach. "I remember Dan Fisher yelling at me to sub out Josh Walker (who was the Warriors’ best hitter at the time). I looked at him and said: "And put who in? You? Are you going to go in?’"

Walker, who now plays professionally in Europe, settled down to finish with 25 kills in that 2011 match.

"Now we don’t have to wait too much longer (to substitute)," Wade said of this year’s team. "If someone is not playing well, we can go to the next guy. I’m pretty patient. I’m not a quick-hook guy. You don’t see me shuffling guys in and out a lot. I usually like to let guys prove why they’re in the lineup."

While Jones provided a spark the other night, there is no setter controversy. Wade reaffirmed Jennings Franciskovic as the starting setter.

"It’s still my team," Franciskovic said.

Franciskovic, who is skilled at distributing the offense, uses his 411⁄2 -inch jump off an approach to construct blocks. Franciskovic also has perfected the push shot to the corners on no-look, second-touch swings. He has 31 kills this season.

Most setters rely on a dump hit that resembles a basketball player’s hook shot. Opposite attacker Brook Sedore showed Franciskovic a video on how to place shots to open areas while keeping the option of slamming away.

"It’s really a cat-and-mouse game," Franciskovic said.