Alberta is happy
to be back

Do the math.

The choices for the University of Alberta were to stay in Canada and play in a midseason tournament, or come to Hawaii and take on the Warriors. Add staying in minus-22 degree weather vs. 80 degrees and it was a no-brainer equation.

MEN'S EXHIBITION VOLLEYBALL Who: Hawaii vs. Alberta (Canada) When: 7 tonight and 1 p.m. Friday Radio: Today's match live, KKEA 1420-AM TV: Today's match live, KFVE (Ch. 5) Tickets: $3-$6 Parking: $3 Next: Outrigger Hotels Invitational, Jan. 5-7

"We're not really treating this as a holiday," said Alberta volleyball coach Terry Danyluk, whose team takes on Hawaii tonight and Friday in exhibition matches. "This is a good opportunity to play a strong team, someone we haven't seen and train in weather about 46 degrees (Celsius) warmer.

"We're in a similar situation as Mike (UH coach Wilton). We've been off for a month and just getting back into the swing of things after exam break. We don't know much about Hawaii, but they've always had good teams. What's good is that for our guys they'll do less game prep and have to do more reacting on the court."

The Golden Bears were last out here in 2001, a month after the Canadian collegiate season was over. Alberta had originally been scheduled to compete in next week's Outrigger Hotels Invitational, but the matches with the Golden Bears would have counted only as exhibitions.

Plus there had been a tendency in previous tournaments for other U.S. teams to play their second strings when facing a foreign team.

"Mike asked us to come early and we will be here for nine days instead of five," Danyluk said. "We're in pretty good shape, except I've been told some of our guys have coral cuts."

Injury-wise, Hawaii gained a player and lost one yesterday. Senior All-American Delano Thomas was back at practice after missing Monday's session when his flight from the mainland was delayed. Thomas won't compete this week and is awaiting academic clearance.

"It's good to be back in Hawaii, where it's warm," Thomas said. "I don't know yet (about grades) and don't want to talk about it. Hopefully, I'll be able to play."

The status of junior opposite Matt Bender was up in the air yesterday. He wore a sling on his left arm as a precautionary measure for an undetermined shoulder injury.

If Bender is unavailable, it would put senior Pedro Azenha into the starting opposite spot.

Some of the shuffling could create an opportunity for junior transfer Matt Carere. The outside hitter, who redshirted last season, is the only Canadian on the team.

"I'm looking forward to getting started," said the Victoria, British Columbia, native. "I'm really excited to play again. I was shaking, I was so happy when playing against Pacific (last month's fall exhibitions).

"This team is special, and what makes it so special is the guys are so close in ability and so close in energy. It's a different attitude for me in terms of redshirting and having the opportunity to play. But I've been treated so well. You're set up for success here."

About the only thing Carere said he missed was the cold weather "every once in a while. But I like being warm now."