Growth can be determined both in the measurables and immeasurables.

It was obvious for the Hawaii volleyball team last week when the Rainbow Warriors were swept by then-No. 12 Pepperdine on Friday then turned around the next night to slowly dismantle the Waves, including not-as-close-as-the-final-score Set 4 25-13.

Not as obvious was the continued growth in chemistry and trust for Hawaii, which is relying on a freshman opposite, an unorthodox offensive scheme with two converted outside hitters in their first season as middles and a junior setter who is the blocking middle on some rotations.

“I thought we took a big step forward as a team, and it wasn’t just tactical,” seventh-year Warriors coach Charlie Wade said. “It was mental and emotional.

“Our guys dug down and competed well together. The exchange of information between them and the staff was next level. It was a significant win in a place where (the Waves) don’t lose much. Plus, you don’t want to get .500 in this league. It’s much easier to be on top.”

In the über-competitive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, Hawaii is one of six teams at 1-1. Three teams are 2-0 (No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 Long Beach State and unranked CSUN) and three are 0-2 (Cal Baptist, UC San Diego and USC).

This week, the Warriors don’t have to worry about falling below .500 in league when hosting Grand Canyon (5-0) of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. The Lopes, off to their best start in program history, opened on the road with a 3-1 win at Hope International and a sweep of UC San Diego, then swept all three home matches last week, twice against Holy Names and then UC Merced.

“This will be a real test for us,” first-year GCU coach Matt Werle said in a postgame interview Saturday. “It simulates what our conference schedule looks like, playing back-to-back nights in front of a hostile crowd.

“We need to refocus immediately.”

The Lopes, 0-2 against the Warriors, have four players from Hawaii on their roster, including three from Kamehameha: sophomore setter Puna Kaniho, sophomore hitter Cullen Mosher and redshirt-freshman setter Kaehu Kaaa. Also on the team is sophomore libero Sky Engleman (Moanalua).

Hawaii is riding a 12-match home winning streak dating back to last season. There are also a couple of milestone watches: Wade (95-80) is five wins away from 100; senior hitter Siki Zarkovic is 40 kills away from 1,000, which will make him the 16th Warrior to reach that mark; and senior libero Kolby Kanetake, with 588 digs, is five away from cracking the program’s Top 10 in career digs.

Hawaii continues its six-match homestand next week with UC San Diego (Jan. 29, 31) and UCLA (Feb. 5-6).

First-year assistant coach Joshua Walker, a former UH All-America honoree, said he was proud of the team’s efforts last week on the road. Hawaii had not won in Firestone Fieldhouse since 2010, Walker’s junior year.

“It’s a tough place to play,” Walker said. “Low ceiling, different lighting. It’s very different than the Sheriff Center.

‘But our guys adjusted Saturday. You’re seeing Jennings (junior setter Franciskovic) getting more and more comfortable, becoming a leader. And our middles (juniors Hendrik Mol and Iain McKellar) are still learning, but the important thing is they have bought into the move. And when you buy in, the sky’s the limit.”

Hawaii’s 1-2 punch this season has been Zarkovic and freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg. Van Tilburg leads the team with 74 kills (4.62 kps) and Zarkovic is second at 73 kills (4.56 kps) with a team-high six aces.