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Warriors head to Canada with hodgepodge lineup

STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORY

"O Canada" becomes "Go Canada" for the Hawaii men's volleyball team this week as the Warriors travel to the University of British Columbia's annual THUNDERBALL tournament.


Hawaii won this event in 2006, rallying from an 0-2 deficit in sets to defeat host UBC in five. This edition of the Warriors may be hard-pressed to duplicate that feat with just six practices under their belts and a patchwork of a travel roster.


"This trip gives us a chance to find out a little about ourselves," Hawaii coach Mike Wilton said before leaving last night. "We'll have four matches in two days against good teams. We know the Korean team will be very good and UBC will be good.


"Who knows about us or Pacific? We'll find out."

— Cindy Luis



FULL STORY >>

By Cindy Luis

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 09, 2008

It's very much a fact-finding mission.

With only six practices in before heading to Canada for a preseason tournament, the Hawaii men's volleyball team looks to see what a mixed plate of a lineup can do.

Few on the Warriors' 13-player travel roster have much experience at the collegiate level, but that will change quickly with four matches in two days at the University of British Columbia's THUNDERBALL.

"We're going to be a patchwork quilt out there," UH coach Mike Wilton said before leaving last night. "We'll have had six whole practices under our belts, but it's a good chance to find out a little about ourselves."

Due to injuries and circumstances, it's not the Warrior team Wilton had expected to take. Junior middle Matt Rawson is still recuperating from off-season shoulder surgery; junior opposite Steven Grgas didn't pass a required running test; and a minor team-rules violation has two freshmen staying home.

The most experience will be at setter -- senior Sean Carney and sophomore Nejc Zemljak -- and at libero -- sophomore Ric Cervantes. Senior hitter Jim Clar (shoulder, rib) isn't at full strength, but will make the trip.

Hawaii will rely on untested middles, including redshirt freshman Jarrod Lofy and sophomore Brennon Dyer, who volunteered to move from his outside hitter position. The most experienced hitter on the trip is sophomore Joshua Walker, who played in 84 of the 108 sets last year.

Also on the travel roster is true freshman Steven Hunt, a highly touted left-side hitter from Canada.

Hawaii opens tomorrow morning with Sungkyunkwan (SKK), one of the top university teams in South Korea. SKK has finished in the top three nationally in eight of the past 10 years, including national titles in 1997, 2000, '02 and '03.

The Warriors then take on host UBC in tomorrow's featured evening match and face Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rival Pacific Saturday morning. The championship and third-place matches follow Saturday evening.

Hawaii, celebrating 50 years of its program, continues the fall season with alumni matches on Oct. 18 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Warriors finish with a mini-tournament against USC and BYU Nov. 7 and 8.

 

It's very much a fact-finding mission.

With only six practices in before heading to Canada for a preseason tournament, the Hawaii men's volleyball team looks to see what a mixed plate of a lineup can do.

Few on the Warriors' 13-player travel roster have much experience at the collegiate level, but that will change quickly with four matches in two days at the University of British Columbia's THUNDERBALL.

"We're going to be a patchwork quilt out there," UH coach Mike Wilton said before leaving last night. "We'll have had six whole practices under our belts, but it's a good chance to find out a little about ourselves."

Due to injuries and circumstances, it's not the Warrior team Wilton had expected to take. Junior middle Matt Rawson is still recuperating from off-season shoulder surgery; junior opposite Steven Grgas didn't pass a required running test; and a minor team-rules violation has two freshmen staying home.

The most experience will be at setter -- senior Sean Carney and sophomore Nejc Zemljak -- and at libero -- sophomore Ric Cervantes. Senior hitter Jim Clar (shoulder, rib) isn't at full strength, but will make the trip.

Hawaii will rely on untested middles, including redshirt freshman Jarrod Lofy and sophomore Brennon Dyer, who volunteered to move from his outside hitter position. The most experienced hitter on the trip is sophomore Joshua Walker, who played in 84 of the 108 sets last year.

Also on the travel roster is true freshman Steven Hunt, a highly touted left-side hitter from Canada.

Hawaii opens tomorrow morning with Sungkyunkwan (SKK), one of the top university teams in South Korea. SKK has finished in the top three nationally in eight of the past 10 years, including national titles in 1997, 2000, '02 and '03.

The Warriors then take on host UBC in tomorrow's featured evening match and face Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rival Pacific Saturday morning. The championship and third-place matches follow Saturday evening.

Hawaii, celebrating 50 years of its program, continues the fall season with alumni matches on Oct. 18 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Warriors finish with a mini-tournament against USC and BYU Nov. 7 and 8.

 


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