You have to get up gosh-awful early to prepare for the nation's No. 1 volleyball team.

Before this newspaper was delivered today, the Hawai'i players had departed for Honolulu International Airport to board a scheduled morning flight to Southern California.

After arriving in Los Angeles this afternoon, the No. 6 Warriors will make the 45-minute drive to Malibu, where they will practice for two hours in preparation for tomorrow's match against Pepperdine.

In previous years, the Warriors departed Honolulu two days before a road match. Department-wide budget constraints reduced the travel window by a day. For last month's trip to UC Santa Barbara, UH arrived at the hotel at 1:30 a.m. on the day of the match.

Although the Warriors are adjusting, repeating their "no whining" mantra, setter Brian Beckwith conceded: "It's brutal. No one else has a travel schedule like we do. No one is flying five hours to and from their games. It's another factor we have to account for when we're preparing and focusing for matches."

Middle blocker Kyle Klinger said: "When you first travel, it takes some getting used to. But we've all been doing it for a while. You just learn what you need to do to keep your body ready."

But UH coach Mike Wilton, who views situations through rose-colored bifocals, said: "There's no excuse for 20-year-old guys not to be able to adjust."

Middle blocker Dio Dante agreed, adding, "We're young. All we have to do is get a good stretch in and we're OK."

The key, according to Wilton, is getting ample rest and adhering to precise guidelines. The itinerary calls for mandatory two-hour study sessions each day.

Skipping study hall, Wilton said, "is not an option. They know they're here to be the best as they can as players, students and people. They know the drill."

Beckwith said the players are diligent in their studies. Several players brought laptop computers. Outside hitter Eric Kalima has several worksheets to prepare for a test Tuesday.

"We spend so much time on the road, we have to make time to get some work done," Beckwith said. "Even when we're on the road, we have to treat it like any other school day."

Klinger is set to take a test for an accounting class tomorrow. Assistant coach Jason Salmeri will serve as proctor.

"We know we have to do well in school to keep playing volleyball," Dante said. "For a lot of us, that's the motivation to keep playing. It's kind of silly not to be able to play because of your grades."

The Warriors' travel roster consists of two setters, three middles, seven outside hitters and libero Alfee Reft. Outside hitters Matt Carere, José José Delgado, Lauri Hakala, Jim Clar and Kalima also can play libero.

The defending NCAA champion Waves (6-1) split against No. 2 Brigham Young, and defeated No. 3 UC Irvine and No. 4 Long Beach State.

Andy Hein and Tom Hulse are imposing blockers, and left-side attacker John Parfitt, a converted middle, leads with 3.85 kills per game.

Head coach Marv Dunphy said the only concern is with passing consistency. Parfitt is an inexperienced passer, and libero J.D. Schleppenbach and opposite hitter Paul Carroll are freshmen.

"We're a work in progress," Dunphy said.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.