The University of Hawaii volleyball team will present evidence for its optimism in tonight’s trial-run match against SportConX.

First serve is 7 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.

“That’s a very good team we’ll be playing,” UH coach Charlie Wade said. “I would think the odds maker would have them to be the favorite.”

The SportConX roster consists of former Warriors Mauli‘a LaBarre, Davis Holt, Johann Timmer, Joby Ramos and Cory Enrique, as well as former local standouts Taylor Crabb (Punahou/Long Beach State), Riley McKibbin (Punahou/USC) and Brad Lawson (Iolani/Stanford).

“We know their personnel very well,” said Wade, acknowledging the Warriors’ side of the net will provide the mystery.

The Warriors are seeking balance after losing 11 players from last year’s NCAA-tournament team while adding 10.

“We have one of the top recruiting classes in the nation,” setter Jennings Franciskovic said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can come in and play big roles this year.”

Franciskovic, libero Kolby Kanetake, and left-side hitters Siki Zarkovic and Kupono Fey are returning starters. Stijn Van Tilburg, a freshman opposite from the Netherlands, has drawn comparisons to former UH All-America Jonas Umlauft because of his repertoire of shots, volleyball IQ, and high-set-hitting capabilities.

“He’s 6-8,” Wade said of Van Tilburg. “He doesn’t have to jump that far. He’s a lot closer to Umlauft than anybody we’ve had at that position for the last four years.”

Last year’s starting middles — All-America Taylor Averill and Holt — graduated this past May, and Zach Radner decided to focus on his engineering studies. Freshman Patrick Gasman will miss the season while recovering from a broken foot.

Opposite Iain McKellar, who has recovered from a torn meniscus, and outside hitter Hendrik Mol, who missed the 2015 season’s final month because of an eye infection, will compete at middle. UH also received a surprise boost from Nainoa Frank, a 21-year-old freshman middle.

Frank is a 2013 Kalaheo High graduate who delayed enrolling at UH because of personal and financial concerns. “There’s a point where I move on,” said Wade, who encountered Frank a few times the past couple years. This past summer, Frank notified Wade that he was a full-time student at Windward Community College during the 2014-2015 academic year. As an academic qualifier out of Kalaheo, Frank was able to immediately enroll at UH the past fall semester. Frank, who is 6-5, is the strongest Warrior, bench pressing 300 pounds.

“He’s going to help us,” Wade said.