"Both teams made a lot of errors," UH coach Mike Wilton said, "but they made more errors than we did."

The third-ranked Warriors (2-1) received an early boost from outside hitter Jose Delgado (20 kills, three block assists, 34 service receptions without an error) and a strong finish from outside hitter Delano Thomas.

Thomas, a 6-foot-7 junior who was an All-American middle blocker last season, had a negative hitting percentage in Game 1. After that, he put down 13 kills (against four errors) and sizzled four aces.

"Delano did a nice job after that first game," Wilton said. "Jose was streaky, but he had some good streaks at critical times. Jose was fine."

Third-year sophomore Matt Bender, making his first collegiate start in place of injured opposite hitter Pedro Azenha, had a career-high 14 kills.

Still, the Warriors were not whole, and middle blocker Joshua Stanhiser was pulled in the second and fourth games because of ineffective play. Wilton said Stanhiser was late in attacking "so we couldn't set him" and was slow on his blocks.

"He was having a difficult time following the cues," Wilton said.

Dio Dante, who had not played in the previous two matches and an exhibition, replaced Stanhiser. Wilton said Stanhiser is expected to start in tonight's rematch.

The Gauchos (3-2) also were not immune to bouts of inconsistency. After hitting .406 in the first game, the Gauchos committed a combined 19 hitting errors in the middle games. That prompted UCSB coach Ken Preston to replace setter Dane Jensen with Bryan Berman. The Gauchos used 13 players.

"It wasn't all the setting," Preston said. "We hit poorly in those two games."

Preston was particularly annoyed when the Gauchos fell behind by four points early in Game 2.

"We're a young team," said Preston, who has one senior on the roster. "We have to learn to put the other team away. We let up."

Wilton said the Gauchos' frequent substitutions were disruptive.