Monday, January 7, 2002
[ UH WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL ]
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For the third consecutive year, the Hawaii men's volleyball team opens its season against a Midwest opponent. Ramblers worthy,
according to WiltonBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.com
Warrors coach Mike Wilton doesn't think tomorrow's 7 p.m. match against Loyola-Chicago at the Stan Sheriff Center will be easy for his team, even though it's no secret that the level of play in the Midwest is usually a notch or two below that of schools in the West.
Only one Midwest team finished in the top 10 last year and that was No. 9 Ohio State, a final four participant. The Warriors own a 13-4 record against Midwestern opponents and have a 2-0 series lead against the Ramblers.
"I know they're a good team," Wilton said. "I know some of our sportswriters have been talking about teams playing cupcakes. I promise you there are no cupcakes on our schedule.
"These guys are good. They're very balanced. They've got good size. They've got some hitters that can bring it. It's going to be a heck of a first match for us. I wanted to play somebody good because the next week is that Outrigger tournament."
The Ramblers finished the 2001 season ranked 14th in the final poll.
The end of their season mirrored Hawaii's in the sense that Loyola-Chicago reached the finals of the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association finals after upsetting Lewis in the semifinal. It was similar to Hawaii's upset of eventual NCAA champion BYU in the conference playoffs.
Loyola-Chicago returns five starters including two 6-foot-4 outside hitters who anchor the offense. Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association all-conference pick Brad Stroub, a senior, led the team in hitting with 5.03 kills per game. Junior Justin Schnor is the team's second option.
Junior Shane Davis delivers the ball for the Ramblers. The 6-4 setter was a first-team MIVA pick in 2001 after being named the conference Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Middle blocker Dan Haas finished ninth in the country in blocking with 1.41 blocks per game.
But the Ramblers will have to face the top blocker in the nation last year in Hawaii's Dejan Miladinovic.
Hawaii's all-time leader in total blocks stuffed opponents an average of 1.99 times per game.
Hawaii has never lost a home opener. The Warriors lost their first match of the year only twice (at Stanford in 1987 and at UCLA in 1990).
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