The Hawai'i volleyball team's first road trip was a test run.

This time, outside hitter Joshua Walker said, "it's a lot different. We're definitely ready."

In a two-match loss at UC Santa Barbara earlier this month, four Warriors were on their first conference road trip and five were making their first road start of their UH careers.

"For a lot of guys, that was their first time traveling (as UH players)," said co-captain Jake Schkud, who is one of two Warrior seniors. "Now they're used to it. They know what traveling is like."

To be sure, this nine-day trip will not be easy. Because of scheduling conflicts, the Warriors will play Pacific Friday and next Monday. Then they will play Stanford Feb. 27 and 28.

"The long trips are the toughest," middle blocker Steven Grgas said. "It's going to be cold."

Of the five Californians on the travel roster, none is from Northern California.

"When we go to USC, we can pop home real quick," said Grgas, who was raised in Seal Beach, Calif. "You feel more comfortable. This time, we'll just be hanging out at the hotel. We hope we can catch up on some sleep."

And school work.

The Warriors spent the past week taking exams and finishing projects. Walker is taking two tests today. A third test will be delivered to the UH coaches, who will administer the test to Walker during the trip.

"It's tough, but it's do-able," said Walker, a second-year freshman who hopes to major in business. "People have done it before. I can, too."

Grgas, like many of his teammates, loaded up on classes during the fall semester.

"That way it doesn't take a toll on me now," he said.

The academic obligations might have factored in the Warriors' three-game loss to UCLA last Friday. The night before, the Warriors won in five games. After Thursday's match, several Warriors, including Walker and setter Sean Carney, stayed up to complete school projects.

"We had school, and (UCLA) didn't," Carney said. "No excuses. We didn't play well. They're a little bigger. When they're tired, it doesn't show as much."

After two days of rest, the Warriors resumed practicing yesterday morning. They worked out for 2 1/2 hours, with some staying to focus on their serves.

The Warriors are prepared to stick with a lineup featuring Carney at setter, Walker and Jim Clar as left-side hitters, Schkud at opposite attacker, Grgas at one of the middle blocker positions, and Ric Cervantes at libero. Keali'i Frank and Matt "Dragon" Rawson each started a match against UCLA.

"Even though we're young and haven't played much together, we can still compete and play with the best," Carney said. "That's the biggest thing we learned this (past) weekend. We've got two tough teams to play on this trip. We're going to go up there to do our best and make our second road trip better than our first."

PAU FOR THE SEASON

It appears outside hitter Ernie Vidinha and middle blocker Dusan Matic are done for the season.

Vidinha, a third-year sophomore from Kamehameha Schools, has not played in any matches this season because of a sore back.

Vidinha yesterday tried to practice on the "third court" — a Gym I court reserved for redshirts and developing players — but cut short his workout because of discomfort. He said he did not think he would be able to play this season.

The coaches had hoped Vidinha would have been able to compete as a libero this season and then return to outside hitter next year.

Matic, a freshman from Serbia, has not practiced in several weeks because of undisclosed personal reasons.

Matic has played in four matches this season, and is averaging 1.27 blocks per game.

He remains in school, and continues to receive a partial scholarship.

It is unlikely Matic will return next season. But he needs to finish the semester academically sound so UH will not be penalized. The program is limited to the financial equivalent of 4.5 scholarships. That amount could be reduced if too many players quit the team while in poor academic standing.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.