HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team was tested early but rallied for a four-set win over Nittaidai University of Japan, Wednesday in the first of two exhibition matches at the Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20.
 
The Rainbow Warriors trailed early in the match against the shorter but quicker Japanese attack. But ultimately, UH's big block and middle attack proved to be the difference as Hawai'i dominated the final three sets. 
 
The teams play again on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
 
UH finished with 19.5 blocks while starting middle blockers Patrick Gasman and Guilherme Voss combined for 17 kills, hitting .536, and 12 blocks. Gasman posted eight kills and nine blocks while Voss tallied nine kills, two aces, and three blocks. 
 
Opposite Rado Parapunov had a team-high 10 kills, hitting .450 with six blocks and three aces while outside hitter Filip Humler added four kills and six blocks. Outside hitter Chaz Galloway and opposite Dimitrios Mouchlias each recorded four kills in one set of action. 
 
As a team, UH hit .360 compared to .191 for Nittaidai. The Japanese team was led by Makoto Nisimura and Ryo Takahashi, who each had 13 kills.
 
In Set 1, the Warriors found themselves playing catch-up from the beginning. Down 18-17, Nittaidai scored four straight to put the set out of reach. A kill by Nisimura ended it as UH struggled offensively, hitting .167 with six hitting errors.  
 
The Warriors turned it around in Set 2, outscoring the Japanese squad 9-3, including six unanswered for an 18-12 advantage. Voss had two aces and a kill and Gasman had two kills and two blocks during that stretch. UH hit .556 with no errors in 18 swings and five blocks in the frame.
 
UH scored the first six points of Set 3. The lead was 14-8 after a Nittaidai error and the Warriors were never threatened the rest of the way. Hawai'i hit .346 in the set with four more blocks. 
 
Hawai'i emptied its bench in Set 4 but the reserves didn't miss a beat. The Warriors hit .462 and committed only one hitting error in 26 attacks.