Any win in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball is a good one. But two? Make that twice as nice.

Hawaii comes into the new week with new-found confidence, courtesy of doubling up on seventh-ranked UC Irvine with five-set wins Friday and Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

For a team that has gone 6-10 in five-setters the past three seasons—including 1-2 last year—the ability to pull out matches late is a testament to offseason strength training, both mentally and physically.

“;Winning the two shows how much we've grown as a team,”; junior setter Nejc Zemljak said. “;I don't think this would have happened last year. It shows how much we've worked on our emotional and physical strength.

“;If you look at the MPSF standings, there are no undefeated teams. Every win is important because there's upsets going on all around.”;

While many might consider Hawaii taking two off the defending NCAA champs an upset, that's not the mind-set of the Warriors. They are expecting a rise in the rankings from their current No. 9 status when today's poll comes out.

Hawaii (6-3, 4-2) goes back to work today to prepare for matches Thursday and Friday against No. 6 UCLA (4-5, 3-3). The Bruins split their matches with visiting BYU last week, sweeping the Cougars Friday, then losing in five Saturday.

Not only did both of the Warriors matches with the Anteaters go five, both lasted more than 3 hours: 3:17 for Friday's 30-28, 30-20, 27-30, 26-30, 20-18 win and 3:12 for the 30-26, 32-30, 26-30, 20-30, 15-11 victory Saturday. It was the first time since the rally-scoring era began in 2001 that Hawaii played a match that lasted at least 3 hours.

The Warriors, obviously, are no longer worried about outlasting opponents.

“;The last few years I think we were just happy to be in that situation against a good team,”; junior hitter Joshua Walker said about a five-set match. “;This year, we are that good team. We're playing like it.

“;We worked hard in the preseason to get into shape and we're really confident that our bodies can hold up. I thought we played better overall (Saturday), were more consistent and were able to prove how good we were by beating (UCI).”;

Walker was very consistent, with 22 kills each night. He was at his best late in Set 5 on Saturday when he put down five kills with no errors on 10 attempts.

“;I told coach (Charlie Wade) and Nejc I wanted a lot of kills in the last game,”; Walker said. “;If I could get some points, that's what I wanted to do.”;

Zemljak was pulled in Set 4 after Hawaii got down by seven at 24-17. It was part concession, part conservation on Wade's part, giving Zemljak a chance to rest up for Set 5 as well as give reserve sophomore setter Sam Morehouse a chance to get some playing time.

“;It was a good move at the right time,”; Wade said. “;It was physiological in part to get Nejc off his legs and help him get perspective. He's a pretty cerebral guy and the times we've done this, he's come back with a new perspective. He made some great choices in Game 5.”;

Hawaii had a more balanced attack Saturday than Friday. The first night against the Anteaters, it was freshman opposite Jonas Umlauft with a UH rally-scoring record of 37 kills with help from Walker (22 kills) and senior middle Matt “;Dragon”; Rawson (12 kills).

Saturday, Walker had 22, Umlauft 21, Rawson 12 and sophomore hitter Steven Hunt 10.

But, when it came down to crunch time in Set 5, the Warriors went back to the 1-2 punch of Umlauft and Walker.

“;Coaches like to talk about balance on their team,”; Wade said. “;The Chicago Bulls liked their balance but, when it's crunch time, Michael Jordan was taking the shot. When it comes down to it, who do you want taking the shot for you? Our go-to guys stepped up.

“;This feels good. Any wins in the league are significant and our fourth league win is important. Last year we had six (6-16). Wins are hard to come by in this league and you really have to take advantage of being at home.”;

The wins move Hawaii into a tie for third with UC Santa Barbara and BYU, a game behind Cal State Northridge and a half-game behind USC.

Note

Senior middle Steven Grgas, who fractured his right hand in a non-volleyball-related incident, will be out six to eight weeks.