Hawai'i left-side hitter Josh Walker proved his nickname — "Sky" — is the same as his volleyball limits.

Walker smashed a team-high 19 kills and made nine key digs to boost the Warriors to their second consecutive upset of No. 2 Cal State Northridge. The scores were 30-26, 21-30, 32-30, 30-26.

"After we won (Friday's) match, all I could think about was winning this one," Walker said. "I wanted to focus on everything."

For the second night in a row, Walker started in place of one of the Warriors' most accurate passers, freshman Gus Tuaniga, who was benched because of a personal issue. Walker has described passing as his "Kryptonite."

But yesterday, Walker was able to handle the Matadors' toughest serves. What's more, Walker flourished in volleyball's version of the give-and-go, in which Walker passed to setter Sean Carney and then scooted for a front-left swing or backrow-quick (bic) attack.

"The first thing is the pass, and I love hitting," said Walker, who is 6 feet 1 but can tough 11-5. "You know I'm going to get out there for the hit. (Carney) hears me yelling: 'Go, go, go' or 'bic, bic.' He knows where I am at all times."

Carney said: "For a while, we had a problem with people not being vocal. Josh never had that problem. From day one, he was screaming for the ball. When somebody wants the ball, you want to let them have the ball. You see it in their confidence. And when the guy can hit at 11 feet, it's tough not to set him."

Walker improved his passing by playing beach volleyball in Virginia. The two-players-to-a-side sport forced Walker to battle adverse conditions (wind, sand court) and develop all of his skills.

Last night, Walker benefitted from the middles serving as decoys, allowing the wing hitters to face one-on-one situations, and Carney's well-placed sets.

Walker and Carney, a 2004 'Iolani School graduate, have developed a confident connection.

"We've been friends since the first day I got here," said Walker, a third-year sophomore from Virginia Beach. "He picked me up at the airport my freshman year. We've always been tight."

Carney's Ford Explorer has served as a shuttle for all newcomers.

"I don't mind," Carney said. "It's good to meet them. Josh came all the way from Virginia Beach. I wanted to make sure somebody was there (at the airport) to say, 'Hey, you already have a friend.' Josh is an easy guy to get along with."

Brennon Dyer added 14 kills for the Warriors, and libero Ric Cervantes, playing with a sore right shoulder, had 15 digs and passed 32 serves without an error.