Ready? Of course.
That was Siki Zarkovic’s short-and-succinct response prior to what would be his final home match at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The senior outside hitter didn’t need a career night — that had happened Friday with his 29 kills — but the Serbian national had an unforgettable Saturday in helping No. 9 Hawaii sweep No. 14 Cal Baptist, 26-24, 25-21, 25-20 in 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Zarkovic had nine kills — second to freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg’s match-high 11 — as the Rainbow Warriors used a balanced attack to close the regular season with a second consecutive win. Hawaii (16-11, 11-11) will head to UCLA as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament’s seventh seed, taking on the second-seeded Bruins (23-5, 17-5) on Saturday in a quarterfinal match at Pauley Pavilion.
But those thoughts were put on hold for another day as the Warriors celebrated with their three seniors — Zarkovic, libero Kolby Kanetake and hitter Brandon Hiehle — and the crowd of 3,690 that helped bury the players in lei.
“I can’t describe tonight and how I feel,” said Kanetake, third on the UH career list in digs. “It’s such a great feeling to have all the love and support.”
It wasn’t just the seniors who were emotional.
“We’re all so close, and not to have these guys next year is going to suck,” junior setter Jennings Franciskovic said. “Senior night is always an emotional night. Nowhere else do you get this and I’m happy we could send them out with a win.”
It was looking like that wasn’t a guarantee at the start as Cal Baptist (14-16, 6-16) clung to the hope that it could secure the eighth and final berth in the quarterfinals. A win and the Lancers would be headed to top-seeded Brigham Young next Saturday.
Cal Baptist led the entire way in Set 1 until Hawaii made an impressive stand late. The Warriors held off two set points with a kill by Nainoa Frank and a solo block of Arturo Iglesias by Kupono Fey.
The Warriors took their first lead on an attack error by Kevin Vaz, and Franciskovic, who had replaced freshman Joe Worsley, completed the 4-0 run with a solo stuff of Seabury Hall graduate Rocky DeLyon.
Hawaii began feeling it in Set 2, building momentum with five blocks and van Tilburg’s six kills. A kill by Fey tied it for the sixth and last time at 17 and the Warriors fended off the Lancers, who pulled to within one three times.
At 22-21, Hawaii closed it on a 3-0 run, getting a kill by Zarkovic and with van Tilburg and Frank teaming to block DeLyon twice.
The Warriors were in celebration mode early after running out to a 19-12 lead in Set 3. With Zarkovic and Kanetake subbed out to ovations, It made for a ragged ending as the Lancers tried to prolong the festivities, creeping to 24-20.
On the fifth match point, Fey’s eighth kill ended it. It also ended the career of DeLyon, who had his second senior night in as many weeks.
“It was awesome being at home to end my career,” said DeLyon, who finished with five kills a night after a career-high 19. “It wasn’t the outcome we wanted but …
“Two senior nights is pretty awesome. First to have one at home (at Cal Baptist), then to have one with my family back home.”
Hawaii will leave either Wednesday night or Thursday morning for Los Angeles.
Note
The other quarterfinals have MPSF champion BYU hosting eighth-seeded UC Irvine (10-19, 7-15), third-seeded Long Beach State (22-5, 17-5) hosting sixth-seeded Pepperdine (13-10, 12-10) and fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara (16-9, 14-8) at fourth-seeded Stanford (19-5, 17-5).
