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Tuesday, March 13, 2001
Ching hurt in The moped jinx has once again struck a University of Hawaii team.
moped accident
The Hawaii volleyball team's
outside hitter needed 20 stitches
for a deep cut on his arm
Warriors No. 2
Warrior NotebookBy Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinVolleyball super sub Tony Ching will be lost to the nation's No. 2 team for at least the next two weeks after his moped crashed into a guard rail on campus Sunday night.
"If we're lucky, we might get him back for the road trip," said Hawaii head coach Mike Wilton.
The Warriors play four matches in four nights on the road trip Wilton is referring to -- March 28-31 with matches at UC Irvine bookending dates at No. 2 UCLA.
The Warriors (13-3, 8-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), who lead the MPSF's Pacific Division, will host No. 4 Southern Cal (10-4, 9-4) on Friday.
A two-game sweep of then-No. 2 Pepperdine has propelled the University of Hawaii four places in this week's Volleyball magazine poll, which was released today. Warriors move up to No. 2
Star-Bulletin staff
The Warriors, who improved to 13-3 with the double-victory, are ranked second.
BYU is ranked No. 1, UCLA is third and Hawaii's next opponent, USC, is fourth, followed by Pepperdine and Stanford.
The Trojans are in fourth in the division.
"I had 20 stitches to the outside (of the arm)," said Ching, who appeared at practice with his left arm elevated and heavily bandaged.
"It was a deep gash because they had to stitch up two layers."
Ching described it as two inches wide and four inches long.
He was riding with his girlfriend, who was not injured.
The accident occurred about midnight Sunday when Ching's moped hit a gravel patch on the section of campus road known as "Moped Hill," between the football practice facility and the dormitories.
He said he and his girlfriend walked to the home of Ching's mother, which is near the campus.
Ching, who has alternated with senior Torry Tukuafu as an outside hitter, has played in 15 matches and started five. He was averaging nearly three kills a game before last weekend.
Ching had a season-high 19 kills at Long Beach State on Feb. 15.
"He's an energy booster," said junior middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic.
"He's the best coming off the bench and he's the backup player for almost any player. He's done it this year and last year and he means a lot to us."
The other starting middle blocker, Brenton Davis, said he'll also miss Ching.
"He's always competing 110 percent and has a really good work ethic," said Davis. "Tony's a really explosive player. We'll definitely miss him."
Ching said the doctor told him the arm needs at least 10 days of rest before the stitches can be removed.
"Hopefully, by spring break I'll be able to play again, as long as it doesn't get infected," he said. "They want me to keep it elevated and keep the blood flowing. I want to make the road trip but that's being very optimistic."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
