HONOLULU — Hawaii coach Charlie Wade referenced "ups and downs" and "growing pains" well before this week's season-opening two-game men's volleyball set against Loyola Chicago.

The Rainbow Warriors experienced their first in 2024 on Friday night in a five-set loss to the Ramblers in which UH failed to protect a large lead in the final frame.

No. 10 LUC refused to go down in the same manner as Wednesday's straight-sets decision in favor of No. 3 UH. The Ramblers came back from a set down twice, then used a closing 8-1 run to stun the 'Bows after trailing 12-7 in Set 5.

Unlike Wednesday, UH (1-1) could not contain LUC’s primary pin hitters, All-American Parker Van Buren, Daniel Fabikovic and Jake Read. Van Buren had 20 kills and four aces and Fabikovic 13 kills. Read had 12 put-downs, including three during the game-breaking run.

After committing just five service errors on Wednesday, UH had a whopping 27 on Friday. Five of the miscues on the service line came in the last set.

“We’re going to have to be patient. We’re very much a work in progress,” Wade told Spectrum Sports’ Scott Robbs afterward. “We think we got a lot of good pieces to be not only good but the best team at the end. Offensively at times we were really, really good but serving got a little neurotic there at times and I think that’s where we’re at.”

Senior hitter Spyros Chakas was effective with 22 kills on .500 hitting, but he was double blocked by Meinart and Van Buren on match point. Chaz Galloway added 11. Middle Alaka‘i todd supplied 12 kills on 22 error-free swings.

Freshman setter Tread Rosenthal had 58 assists and team highs in aces (four) and digs (eight).

UH hosts Emmanuel (Ga.) for a two-match set next Wednesday and Friday. It will be the Lions’ first matches of the season.

“It’s a long season,” Wade said. “That’s a really good (Loyola) team that was playing really well. We’ve got a couple guys out hurt; I think when we get all of our guys healthy we’ll be really good. It was a fun match, really competitive. Wish we would’ve pulled it out but did not.”

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.