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Thursday, February 8, 2001
After a year of ailments that ambushed him at every turn, Eyal Zimet is playing the way he always wanted to for the Hawaii men's volleyball team.
The UH outside hitter is
producing more for the
team this yearBy Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinZimet has played every one of Hawaii's 29 games as the Warriors have compiled a 6-2 overall record. Last year, he missed 15 of the team's 104 games in a 19-10 season.
"He's playing a lot better," said Hawaii head coach Mike Wilton. "Last year he was plagued by injuries. You name it, it would happen. Maybe he wasn't ready for the grind."
Zimet, whose youthful grin belies the fact he's going on 25, agrees.
"My injuries last year were from lifting weights, not from volleyball," said the outside hitter from Israel.
Zimet admitted he wasn't ready for the American emphasis on lifting.
"Back in Israel we didn't have access to a magnificent weight room like we have here," he said.
This year, the 6-foot-2 sophomore with a 3.75 GPA is showing the results of time spent hoisting the iron.
"It's made me feel better mentally as well as physically," said Zimet.
He is making a major impact in four statistical areas.
Zimet leads the team in services aces with 12 -- more than half the 23 he had for all of last season.
He is second in digs with 2.0 a game (he averaged 1.75 last year) and he's third in kills with 2.83 per game (he averaged 2.52 last year).
The only area he's behind 2000 is hitting percentage. Zimet hit .345 in the previous season, compared with his current .307.
Wilton has been pleased with Zimet's improved passing, defense and serving.
"Those three things are very important to us," he said.
"He's also improved his block. And he's hitting the ball harder this year and that has made him harder to dig."
Zimet said his improved defense is due to the return of 6-7 junior middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic.
"I think the system is much more stable now when you have a consistent block," he said. "It's much easier to play defense behind that."
But Wilton knows Zimet's limitations.
"As long as we're consistent with our passing, he's a tough hitter," he said.
"I don't know if we want him banging against a big double block all night long."
Zimet is the fourth Israeli Wilton has recruited.
The others were two-time All-American Yuval Katz (1995-96), Sivan Leoni (1995-98) and Naveh Milo (1996-98).
When Zimet came to Hawaii, he was already a mature athlete with strong playing credentials at the international level.
Not only did he play for the Israeli national team for five years, but he captained the team in the summer of 1999.
"The previous captain retired," said Zimet.
"It was during the Olympic qualifications. We lost to Hungary in the second round. It's very hard to qualify from Europe."
"When I go home in the summer, I will play again with the national team," said Zimet.
That raises a question which he dismisses immediately.
Is there anything that would keep him from returning here for his junior year?
"Well, maybe if an earthquake sinks Hawaii," said Zimet with a laugh.
