Yuval Katz and the UH Rainbows are back in action tomorrow against the
Nittany Lions of Penn State. Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

The top four teams in the country converge starting tomorrow for the 27th NCAA men's volleyball title with the championship expected to come down to top-ranked Hawaii (26-2) and host UCLA (24-5), the defending champion and No. 2 team, respectively.

In the way of Saturday's anticipated showdown is upstart Lewis University of Illinois (31-4), in only its third year of Division I intercollegiate play, and Penn State (24-5), the only school outside of California to bring the banner home. The fourth-seeded Flyers have a formidable task of beating the top-seeded Bruins; winners of an unprecedented 15 titles, eight of which have come at home.

"We tend to do pretty well when we get to play at home," said UCLA coach Al Scates, whose teams are undefeated in eight appearances at Pauley. "This year we weren't expected to do as well - we were picked fifth in the preseason poll and lost a lot - but we're here."

The Rainbows are also back as the at-large team, rejuvenated after being un-ceremoniously bounced out of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs in the semifinals by UC Santa Barbara. Hawaii hopes to improve on last year's disappointing fourth-place finish, a burden made heavier by the high expectations accompanying a team that was ranked No. 1 from the start of the preseason.

"I think it will help that we've been here before," said Hawaii hitter Aaron Wilton. "We know what to expect and that kind of experience you cannot have unless you've been through it before."

Hawaii's experience is about 2,500 miles and three time zones removed from last year's tournament experience at Springfield, Mass. The Rainbows are very hungry after last weekend's loss and eager to prove they can win when the pressure is on.

Regardless if he has the best team, the venerable Scates (15 NCAA titles since 1970) has found a way to win when it counts.

UCLA has two of the top players in the country, senior setter Stein Metzger, the MPSF player of the year, and junior hitter Paul Nihipali, who had a school-record 52 kills in the five-set win over UCSB last Saturday that gave the Bruins the MPSF tournament championship.

UCLA has won four straight and defeated Lewis, 3-0, in early March. The Bruins also have a 3-1 win over Penn State from the January Outrigger Hotel Invitational.

The Bruins lost to Hawai, 3-2, in the Outrigger event, the first time the Rainbows had defeated UCLA since 1992. The teams split the rest of the season, the Rainbows winning the conference match 3-0 and the Bruins prevailing a night later, 3-2.

As far back as the January meeting, the Bruins were expecting to see the Rainbows in the title match. It could happen.

The Bruins should have the services of true freshman swing hitter Fred Robins (Kamehameha), who missed the past four games with a sprained ankle.

Hawaii had what was believed to be a school record 29 service errors in the loss to the Gauchos. The Rainbows know they have to rediscover their lethal weapon in order to be successful this week.

"I think we are very hungry," said Hawaii setter Erik Pichel. "Some of the talk about us winning the national title may have gotten to us. We may have needed the loss because things were coming fairly easy for us."

The Rainbows have a tendency to lose their focus during long matches. They have won 20 of their 28 matches in straight sets and had not dropped a game in nine outings before losing to UCSB last Saturday.

"If there could be a silver lining to the (UCSB) loss, it was that we have been able to refocus and rechallenge ourselves," said Hawaii coach Mike Wilton.

The Nittany Lions have lost only twice since finishing 0-3 in the Outrigger Invitational. Penn State has since found a setter (Justin Otto) and re-established its middle game behind All-American Kevin Hourican, Sergio Pamgena and David Gealey.

"We know Penn State is a lot better than when we saw them in January," said Mike Wilton, whose team lost to the Nittany Lions in last year's championship semifinal. "We knew that once they solidified their setting position there would be the natural evolution of getting better. Plus they've got Hourican and (All-American) Ivan Contreras, a very fine player."

Lewis, a Division II school in all other sports, began its Division I men's volleyball program three seasons ago.

Lending immediate help were three players from the Canadian national team and international experience from Bart Bachorski (Poland) and Victor Rivera (Puerto Rico).

Lewis stunned UC Santa Barbara in five games in an early match, a loss they may have ultimately cost the Gauchos the NCAA at-large bid. Lewis then traveled down to UCLA, where the Flyers got grounded by the Bruins in three straight, a match so lightly regarded by UCLA that it was played in Men's Gym (capacity 500).

Leading the Flyers' attack is senior hitter Chris Borden, ranked fourth in national hitting percentage (.462) and Rivera, seventh in the country in block average.

Going into last week's playoffs, Lewis was second only to Hawaii in hitting percentage (.391-.354).

The Flyers ousted Ball State in the midwest regional to gain its first final four berth.

Record: 24-6.
NCAA titles: 15
Top players: Stein Metzger (senior setter, MPSF Player of the Year), Paul Nihipali (junior hitter, 52 kills against UCSB Saturday in the MPSF tournament final).
Strengths: Playing at home. (22-0 in NCAA tournaments in Pauley Pavilion); depth, tradition.
Weaknesses: Playing at home, musical chairs at the swing hitter spot.

Record: 26-2.
NCAA titles: 0
Top players: Yuval Katz (sophomore hitter, NCAA Freshman of 1995), Erik Pichel (senior setter, national leader in assists).
Strengths: Jump services, defense, balance.
Weaknesses: Confidence undermined by loss last weekend, dependence on Katz.

Record: (24-5).
NCAA titles: 1
Top players: Ivan Contreras (junior hitter), Kevin Hourican (senior blocker).
Strengths: Solid block, Contreras' versatility.
Weaknesses: Lack of competition outside West Coast (3 losses to Ball State, one each to Hawaii and UCLA), inexperienced setter.

Record: (31-4).
NCAA titles: 0
Top players: Chris Borden (senior hitter), Doug McBride (senior setter)
Strengths: Suprise element, good international experience.
Weaknesses: Weak region, lack of tough competition.