The key is balance. Finding it. Having it.

In volleyball, it’s having a diversified offense with talent that is a mix of experience and newcomers. It’s also weighing the best approach to serving: high risk-high reward versus safe and rely on defense on transition.

When No. 4 Hawaii visits No. 6 Stanford for two matches beginning today, the Rainbow Warriors will see a near-mirror image of themselves through the net. Where Hawaii has freshman opposite Stijn van Tilburg, Stanford counters with junior Gabriel Vega (‘Iolani); at libero, it’s Warrior senior Kolby Kanetake (Moanalua), the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation dig leader (2.89 dps), versus Cardinal sophomore Evan Enriques (Kamehameha-Hawaii), No. 2 in the MPSF (2.55 dps).

Then there is the anticipated battle between senior outside hitters. Hawaii’s Siki Zarkovic has had double-figure kills in all 11 matches, leading the team in kills (4.45 kps, fifth nationally). Stanford’s Madison Hayden is averaging a team-high 3.83 kps. And, when it comes to serving, the Warriors have 49 aces, having given up 38; the Cardinal have 48 aces, giving up 34.

Both have had eye-opening results, Hawaii coming off last weekend’s split with then-No. 1 UCLA, Saturday’s loss in five. Stanford opened MPSF play at then-No. 1 BYU, winning in five the first night, losing in five the second.

“Those results at BYU got everyone’s attention,” Warrior coach Charlie Wade said. “That’s no easy task.

“They are big, athletic, well-coached and early on they’ve emerged as one of the best teams in the country. They’re legit for sure.”

Stanford coach John Kosty feels the same about the Warriors.

“I’ve watched a lot of their games and they are a solid team,” said Kosty, the older brother of former Warrior Chris. “In the preseason, I thought they might have had a couple of holes but they’ve filled those.

“Like us, they return key players in key positions. It’s going to be an interesting weekend.”

Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that the matches will be played in two different venues, due in part to a conflict with women’s basketball. Friday’s match is at Burnham Pavilion (1,200 capacity) while Saturday’s is in Maples Pavilion (7,233 capacity), which will host the Stanford-Oregon men’s basketball game earlier at 1 p.m.

After finishing second nationally in 2014, Stanford struggled to a 10-19 record last season, finishing tied for ninth in the MPSF. The main difference this season?

“A healthy James Shaw,” Kosty said of his senior setter who was hampered by knee, foot and hand injuries last year when he also was used as an outside hitter.

The 6-foot-8 Shaw, son of former Stanford men’s and women’s volleyball coach Don, leads the team in assists (399) and aces (16), third in blocks (30). Shaw, who averages 1.24 kps, will be the second offensive setter Hawaii will face in as many weeks, the Warriors having seen UCLA’s Micah Ma’a last week.

“Shaw is putting a lot of pressure on the front-row players,” Hawaii assistant coach Joshua Walker said. “He has the potential dump shot. You can’t have your two left-side blockers committing on the opposite Vega so it can lead to a lot of one-on-ones.

“Obviously, they’re a good team. We know they’ll pound the middles, too. We have to block well, not just the first night.”

The last time Hawaii made this piggy-back trip — the Warriors double up with two at USC Monday and Tuesday — UH went 2-2. The Warriors were swept by the Cardinal then took both at Pacific, the final season of the Tigers’ program.

“It’s going to be a hard road trip, tough mentally and physically,” van Tilburg said. “If we can keep in-system, we can beat anyone.

“Against UCLA I think we played well but at the end (Saturday) we were too predictable. I don’t think anyone is down and we know this weekend is crucial. We hope for four wins. That will be the best outcome.”

Van Tilburg is second to Zarkovic in kills (4.19 kps), which has him eighth nationally. Earlier this week, he was named the Off the Block/Springbak Inc. national freshman of the week for the second time this season after his performances against the Bruins, which included a career-high 21 kills on Friday.