The University of Hawai'i volleyball team resets the clock today with a rare afternoon match against top-ranked Pepperdine and, it is hoped, a return to good times.

"We're working very hard," said setter Brian Beckwith, whose team is 3-12 overall and 3-10 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. "We're giving it everything we've got. We don't let up. We never say never. It's just disappointing to work that hard and not get a win."

Co-captain Lauri Hakala said: "The payoff is about to come. That's all I have to say. We have to keep trying. If we keep trying, we'll make it. Eventually we'll make it."

The clock is running. The Warriors estimate they need to win eight of their final nine MPSF matches to qualify for the playoffs.

For that to happen, they must correct flaws in their passing. In Thursday's match against Pepperdine, Hakala played at opposite, where he hits on the right side in five of six rotations but has a reduced role as a passer. When he played left-side hitter, he was one of the Warriors' best passers. His absence as a primary passer was noticeable.

In particular, the Warriors had difficulty passing the Waves' float serves. Left-side hitters Matt Vanzant and Jim Clar, who moved from opposite, and libero Eric Kalima were the primary passers Thursday. During yesterday's practice, the Warriors worked on different techniques, strategies and rotations to try to improve their passing.

"On the float serves, we need to step up and (pass) them with our hands instead of our forearms," Vanzant said. "We were waiting for the ball to come to us. We were letting the ball play us. If we step up and take control, we should be fine."

Kalima, who overcame flu-like symptoms to play Thursday, said: "We've got to be more steady and consistent with our passes. When we were in system, everything was going good."

UH coach Mike Wilton expects Hakala to remain at opposite, perhaps for the rest of the season.

Vanzant also appears set at one of the left-side spots. Wilton noted that Vanzant hit .412, with only one error, when he was attacking from the front left.

In the back-row rotations, Vanzant hits from the middle. From there, Vanzant was effective on bics (high and quick sets) but struggled with pipes (lofting sets). The pipe sets allowed the Waves to construct a three-player block.

"With a pipe, you have to wait a lot longer," said Vanzant, who tried to counter with roll shots toward Pepperdine setter Jonathan Winder. That strategy was designed to turn Winder from setter to a passer. But too often Vanzant hit pipe sets wide.

"I have to get that under control ," Vanzant said. "It's better to give them the ball and let them get something in transition than for me to hit out. I'm working on that."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.