On Hawai'i volleyball coach Mike Wilton's office desk, statistical sheets are spread like place mats.

They chart the performances of each Warrior in every practice this week, and will be used as reference tools in choosing tonight's opening lineup against Pacific.

"We haven't had any trouble picking starters match to match," Wilton said. "It's finding finishers."

Inconsistency in all the important phases — serving, passing and hitting — have led to numerous lineup combinations and, ultimately, a 3-15 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation record. The Warriors are 6-17 overall.

Three years after winning a school-record 19 in a row to finish 19-3 in the MPSF, the Warriors will miss the eight-team playoffs for the second year in a row. UH is in 11th place in the 12-team MPSF; Pacific is in the cellar.

The role of spoiler for next week's matches against Southern California "is unfamiliar," said Wilton, who has been a head coach for more than 30 years. "I've never been one except for this year and last year."

The Warriors might be short-handed again tonight. Outside hitter Steven Hunt, who missed 10 matches because of a fractured right hand, suffered an injured heel when he slipped on the metal spiral staircase leading to the Upper Campus.

Although he practiced the past two days, he appears to be limited in his jumping. Hunt is not expected to start, although he might be available to play.

Middle blockers Matt "Dragon" Rawson and Steven Grgas each missed a practice this week because of illness.

Wilton said the battle between liberos Rick Cervantes and Mike China is "pretty close."

"There's no playoff for us, but this is a scheduled contest and we're going to do our best," Wilton said. "I would say this: in spite of the disappointment in the results category, we have competed. We played hard and we practiced hard. I actually had a good time, as good a time as you can have going six and whatever we are."

Blog: http://warriorbeat.honadvbogs.com.