It’s long been a measuring stick for Hawaii men’s volleyball. For better or worse, how the Rainbow Warriors fare against UCLA speaks to where Hawaii stacks up both nationally and in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

History has been on the Bruins’ side, with a dominating 61-26 series lead that includes the victory in the 1996 NCAA national championship match and the upset of the No. 2 Warriors in the MPSF quarterfinals at the Stan Sheriff Center that snapped Hawaii’s 19-match win streak.

However, the only history the Warrior junior class knows is that of success. Setter Jennings Franciskovic, outside hitter Kupono Fey and converted middles Iain McKellar and Hendrik Mol are 4-1 against UCLA in their careers, the only loss coming in the 2014 Outrigger Resorts Invitational. Since then, the Warriors have won four straight in MPSF play, including two last season at Pauley Pavilion.

No. 5 Hawaii (8-1, 5-1 MPSF) goes for its fifth straight — which would tie a program best against UCLA (2002-2004) — when hosting the top-ranked Bruins (10-0, 6-0 MPSF). The Warriors also have won 16 straight at home, dating back to last April’s two wins over Stanford.

“I’m excited,” Franciskovic said. “They’re a good team and it’s going to be a real test of how good we’re going to be this year.

“I know a lot of their guys, their middle (redshirt sophomore Oliver Martin) was my middle in club. They’re good but I think we’ll turn a few heads this week.”

UCLA is turning a few heads with its offense, a 6-2 system where both setters set as well as hit. Sharing double-duty are junior Hagen Smith, son of Bruin All-American setter Sinjin Smith, and freshman Micah Ma’a, son of Hawaii All-American Pono Ma’a and Lisa Strand Ma’a, a member of two Rainbow Wahine NCAA championship teams.

“We have a lot of guys in our gym who grew up with the game, have pretty high volleyball IQs,” UCLA coach John Speraw, whose roster also includes junior hitter Jake Reeves, son of Bruin All-American Jeanne Beauprey Reeves, a Olympic silver medalist in volleyball. “We have a lot of guys who can play different positions and going to (the 6-2) was something we talked about in fall but didn’t use it. Micah has such a unique skill-set that it took a while to figure out what we wanted to do.

“It’s unique for me, something that (UCLA) hasn’t used since 1984. I don’t think anyone anticipated that it would be this successful this year. The players have bought into it, there’s great team chemistry. They are a joy to coach.”

Just as Hawaii has struggled at times with a work-in-progress offense, so has UCLA. The Bruins have not come by their perfect record easily; last Wednesday, they were down 0-2 at home to No. 2 Long Beach State before rallying in five.

“The 6-2 gives them different looks, with six different things coming at you,” said Hawaii coach Charlie Wade, who is one win away from 100 in Manoa. “Two different setters mean their hitters hit different depending on who is setting. It’s more to prepare for.

“Micah is having a good year. For sure, he has made them better.”

Ma’a leads the Bruins in aces (25) — seven in last Friday’s win over CSUN — and is second in total kills (84) and digs (58). The Punahou School product also is second to Smith in assists (221 to 220).

“I’m looking forward to coming home this weekend to enjoy some warm weather, seeing my family and friends, and playing a couple of tough matches with UH,” said Ma’a, who had a career-high 13 kills against Long Beach State.

There’s equal anticipation on the other side of the court.

“I’m looking forward to playing the No. 1 team and to seeing Micah on the other side of the net,” said Fey, Ma’a’s teammate at Punahou. “He’s doing really well.

“We have to worry about two setters, who are also hitters, and they run a good tempo. It’s a big match for us.”

Hawaii is coming off two not-so-easy sweeps of UC San Diego, where freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg did not reach double-figure kills either night, ending his streak at seven.

“(UCSD) defended him well,” Wade said. “But Stijn is the kind of guy who can figure out that when his offense isn’t going well, he’ll find ways to help us win.”

Hawaii is off to its best start since also going 8-1 in 2005. UCLA is 10-0 for the first time since 1998, a season where the Bruins won their first 16.

>> Note: Saturday is “Pink Night” with the Warriors wearing custom pink plumeria uniforms in support of breast cancer awareness. It is also the anniversary of the death of Wade’s mother, who died from the disease.