Tritons next for Warriors
STORY SUMMARY »
It may have been a week off from competition, but it was hardly a vacation for the Hawaii men's volleyball team.
The Warriors spent last week beating up on each other and trying to beat each other out for starting positions. It was also a week to rehab and recuperate from injury and illness that sidelined two starters: junior hitter Jim Clar (abdominal strain) and sophomore middle Matt Rawson (flu).
No. 13 Hawaii (1-4, 0-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) expects to be close to 100 percent when taking on No. 15 UC San Diego (2-3, 1-3) tomorrow and Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Tritons are feeling good themselves after upsetting host and defending national champion UC Irvine on Saturday, 30-25, 30-22, 31-33, 34-32.
It was only the fifth time the Tritons had defeated the Anteaters and it launched UCSD into the AVCA/CSTV Coaches Top 15 yesterday for the first time since 2004. Putting up impressive numbers was senior hitter Russ Hardy, who had 24 kills with just two errors in 34 swings (.647) and added three aces.
Hawaii has never lost to UCSD in 37 meetings.
MPSF Volleyball
» Who: No. 15 UCSD (2-3, 1-3) at No. 13 Hawaii (1-4, 0-2)
» When: 7 p.m. tomorrow and Friday
» Where: Stan Sheriff Center
» TV: Live, KFVE (Ch. 5)
» Radio: Live, KKEA 1420-AM
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Something good CAN come from a loss.
Need proof? Look no further than the UC San Diego men's volleyball team.
Last Wednesday at UCLA, the Tritons were up 28-26 in Game 2 and on the verge of evening the match. Instead, the Bruins scored four straight to take a 2-0 lead en route to the sweep.
On Saturday, UCSD found itself trailing UC Irvine 28-26 in Game 4. Taking a cue from UCLA, the Tritons hung tough, tying it at 28-28 and holding off one Anteater game point at 32-31 before scoring the final three points to win the match 30-25, 30-22, 31-33, 34-32.
"What we got out of the UCLA match was learning we need to make the plays at the crucial times," UCSD coach Kevin Ring said. "For us to stay in matches, we need to get into a sideout rhythm, be able to sideout multiple times and not give up those runs of points.
"The league is a dogfight every night."
The big dog for the Tritons on Saturday was senior hitter Russ Hardy, who had a career-high 24 kills and hit an unreal .647. UCSD outblocked UCI 12-6 while also finishing with a 12-10 edge in aces, getting four from freshman setter Phil Bannan and three from Hardy.
The 15th-ranked Tritons (2-3, 1-3 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) were scheduled to fly in today, packing their first top 15-ranking since 2004 and a confidence that a win can bring. It's that confidence -- and a win -- that No. 13 Hawaii (1-4, 0-2) is hoping to find when opening the two-match series with UCSD tomorrow.
The Warriors are also hoping to find consistency and a starting lineup. The Tritons need to throw out whatever tape they have on Hawaii because the Warriors have undergone major revisions coming out of their bye week.
Expected to start at setter is freshman Nejc Zemljak, last seen at left-side hitter two weeks ago against Long Beach State. Junior setter-turned-hitter Sean Carney is moving over to opposite, with former opposite -- senior Jake Schkud -- likely back on the left with either Josh Walker or Brennon Dyer (both freshmen) or rehabbing junior Jim Clar (abdominal strain).
At middle, Keali'i Frank has nailed down one spot. Sophomores Steven Grgas and Matt Rawson -- out with the flu two weeks ago -- continue to battle for the second spot.
Despite the lopsided 37-0 series edge and UCSD's long history of being at the bottom of the conference, the Warriors will not be overlooking the Tritons.
"They are much improved, as indicated by Saturday's result," sophomore libero Ric Cervantes said. "You saw what Russ Hardy did.
"Obviously we want two wins, but we need to play them one at a time. We're still young and developing. We have a lot of really good athletes. We just need to find that consistency. And we need a win to give us a jump-start."
The Warriors are looking to snap a three-match skid. Most seasons, the Tritons would be expected to be the cure ... out of the 37 meetings, it's gone five only twice, both times in San Diego. Since rally scoring started in 2001, Hawaii has won 11 of 13 in sweeps.
"We're going to play them just like we play anyone else," Rawson said. "No matter who it is, we have to keep playing hard."
Ring said he was looking forward to the trip.
"It's always fun to play in Hawaii," he said. "There is such great fan support. They understand volleyball. They support their team, but they also support good play."
Notes: UCSD sophomore hitter Will Ehrman (Punahou '06) is not making the trip home. He will have surgery on his right (hitting) shoulder and likely is out for the year. Ring is expecting to redshirt Ehrman. ... Pepperdine senior setter Jonathan Winder was named the MPSF Player of the Week. He became the Waves' all-time assist leader when he finished with 48 assists in the four-game win at Stanford. ... While Pepperdine (4-0) remained one of three unbeaten MPSF teams, the Waves lost All-American opposite Paul Carroll for up to eight weeks. He injured his wrist during practice prior to last Friday's match at Pacific.