Available for rent: A bandwagon previously used by short-term University of Hawai'i volleyball fans.

The Warriors apparently are no longer feeling the love. On Wednesday, a Valentine's Day crowd of 1,558 showed up for the Warriors' seventh consecutive loss, to Southern California in five games.

The Warriors, who had led the nation in attendance for more than a decade, do not expect a large turnout for tonight's rematch.

"Obviously, our fan attendance is just terrible," setter Brian Beckwith said. "It's tough to feel the support sometimes. It's all just a reaction to how we've been playing. We're a winning program, and when you don't win, you're going to see some friction (in fan support)."

The Warriors are in 10th place in the 12-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The top eight teams compete in the league's postseason tournament.

Left-side hitter Jacob Schkud said that after Wednesday's match, he heard taunts from two UH fans.

"They approached me after the game and said something about one of my teammates," Schkud said. "These guys are my family. When they say something like that, it ticks me off. You know I'm not an angry person. For someone to have the audacity to say stuff like that to me is not right."

The Warriors have struggled to find a rhythm this season. Their best overall player, left-side hitter Lauri Hakala, will miss his third consecutive match because of an abdominal strain.

While Schkud played well Wednesday, the Warriors have scrambled to fill the other spot on the left side.

Matt Vanzant replaced starter Mark Ribeiro and finished with 13 kills. But that position combined for 10 attack errors.

"It's never good to hit that many balls out in any league, not even in Paki Park," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "Therein lies the rub. We're beating ourselves. We're missing serves at critical times, and we're hitting too many balls out."

Wilton said Beckwith, who was pulled in the middle of Game 3 Wednesday, will start at setter.

Vanzant also is expected to start. He admittedly lost his confidence after struggling in the Outrigger Invitational three weeks ago.

"I'm feeling better," said Vanzant, who is counted on to serve as a primary passer. "It takes a couple of big plays and that just builds up the confidence. It's a lot easier to play relaxed after you do a couple of good things."

Vanzant also said he is working out the glitch in his swing.

"I want to try and swing high, but I need to get a straight-arm swing," Vanzant said. "I'm kind of cutting it. I'll get it under control."

Schkud said the Warriors have improved each match. He said they are poised to end their slump.

"If it doesn't I think I might off myself because I'm sick of losing," Schkud said. "I'm sick of people saying (negative) stuff to us. It's not like I wake up every morning thinking, 'Hey, I want to lose today.' "

Schkud said there is enough talent on the team.

"Everyone is here for a reason," he said. "It's not like one day, 'Hey, why don't you come play volleyball?' We've all been working at it hard enough for a while."

Before yesterday's practice, Wilton summoned the players to the grease board and made them read the daily message. This one read: "Things will straighten out. There's a great purpose in our struggles in life."

"I really like that message," Wilton said. "We're facing a great challenge. It's not any fun to go through this, but it's a great opportunity if we let it be."

Beckwith said: "If we were to come into the gym every day and think that life's over, that our season's over and it's not going to get any better, then we might as well call it a season right here. We're playing as hard as we can. We're giving it all of our effort. You can't ask for anything more."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.