The hill was alive with the sound of ... well, never mind.

Several members of the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team yesterday could be found at the top of Frank Street — hunched over or collapsed on the sidewalk; coughing, or worse.

"I did it," said setter Sean Carney, last year's co-captain, before excusing himself.

Head coach Mike Wilton said: "We had some good results."

Indeed, all but three of the 27 players have passed the so-called Frank Street Test, a grueling sprint up the three-block hill near Saint Louis Heights.

Today is the opening of fall practice, but only the Warriors who completed the sprint in a specified time limit will be issued practice uniforms.

The Warriors will play two days of exhibition matches in Canada next week. Players who don't pass the Frank Street Test by Friday morning will not be eligible to travel.

"You have to make (the requirement) for all kinds of things to happen — to get a practice uniform, to, ultimately, be on the team," Wilton said.

Fifth-year players are required to ascend the distance in no more than 1 minute, 52 seconds. The limit increases in 2-second intervals per class. For instance, a fourth-year player has a limit of 1:54, a third-year player 1:56, and so forth.

Tiff Wells, who is trying out at libero, did not play volleyball during his four years at Pepperdine. But because he is in his fifth year of school, his limit was 1:52. Wells did not make the requirement yesterday. But after the test, he walked down to the second hill, then sprinted to the top.

"We'll keep giving opportunities to re-test as long as people keep making progress and a great effort," Wilton said.

Several years ago, Wilton discovered Frank Street while working out. He had scaled it several times before deciding to make it part of the Warriors' preseason conditioning program.

But a few years ago, he discontinued the drill. Believing he needed to get back to basics, Wilton reinstated the sprint this year.

To ensure accuracy, associate head coach Tino Reyes, who was at the starting line, and Wilton, who was at the top of the hill, communicated with cell phones. Assistant coach Mason Kuo set up a video camera at the finish line.

The underclassmen were in the first group. All made it within the required time, including setter Sam Morehouse, who appeared to have struggled with his weight during the summer.

"Before that, the toughest thing I had to do was have to wait for Frank Street," Morehouse said. "The anticipation is more of a killer than doing this thing."

Carney was ill the past week. Still, he ran, finishing in an outstanding 1:45, earning membership into the "1:50 Club."

"On the second hill, you hit the wall," Carney said. "On the third, you can't feel your legs. You feel like you're running sprints, but your feet aren't moving."