UH improved since UC Irvine spanking | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii's Brook Sedore and Davis Holt get a block on UC Irvine's Kyle Russell in the third set of the UC Irvine vs. Hawaii volleyball match at Stan Sheriff Center.

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Two weeks ago, the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team learned that being good is not always good enough.

UC Irvine swept the Warriors, who hit .354, including .440 in the opening set.

"We kind of got smacked in the teeth on our home court," UH opposite attacker Brook Sedore said of the final match of the Outrigger Invitational.

On Monday afternoon, the sixth-ranked Warriors departed for California, where they will play UC Irvine in matches on Wednesday and Friday.

"Redemption time," libero Garrett Komisarek said. "We have to go out there and redeem ourselves from that last match."

Middle blocker Davis Holt said: "We want payback from that. That was kind of embarrassing to lose like that in front of our fans. We want to win."

In that match, the Anteaters served tough, passed well and hit .526.

"I certainly hope for a different outcome," Wade said. "Irvine played really well. If they play like that, they’ll win a lot."

The Warriors rebounded to earn two four-set victories over then-No. 3 UC Santa Barbara. In the second match, five Warriors had double-digit kills, including Holt, the second middle who entered the series as an after-thought attacker.

"Now we figured it out," Davis said of his connection with setter Jennings Franciskovic.

Franciskovic added: "I think we’ve grown as a team a little bit, especially the connection with me and my hitters."

The Warriors had animated practices last week, with the B team running quick offenses to simulate Irvine’s pace. The Warriors had a bye this past weekend.

"We’re prepared," Sedore said of the rematch against Irvine. Two weeks ago "I don’t think we were prepared to play anybody that good at that point. It was a good wake-up call. It couldn’t have come at a better time. It was our last (pre-conference) match, and we got licked, and now we’re ready."

UC Irvine and UH are members of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, but that Outrigger match did not count toward the league standings.

"We’re playing with a lot more intensity," Davis said. "We’re ready to rock and roll."