Wednesday, January 16, 2002
[ UH WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL ]
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Hawaii joins top The stage is set and six performances are on the bill.
2 in Outrigger
The Warriors host No. 1 Penn
State and No. 2 UCLA
along with No. 11 LewisBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comFifth-ranked Hawaii hosts top-ranked Penn State, second-ranked UCLA and No. 11 Lewis in the eighth annual Outrigger Classic show that starts tomorrow.
Lewis and UCLA have the matinee at 4:30 p.m., with Hawaii playing Penn State at 7 p.m.
It is the strongest tournament field in recent years and Hawaii coach Mike Wilton has a few ideas about what he wants the Warriors to accomplish.
"A tournament like this for a team that's deep, it's a good situation for a team like that," Wilton said. "I guess we find out about our team a little bit.
"A goal for us is to define and fulfill larger hitting assignments. Tony (Ching) would be a natural and we're looking at some other guys, too. (We want) to spread the attack more, and have more people for them to worry about."
Wilton hopes that the Warriors' new-found depth will be a factor in the three-day tournament. But having more options may be more of a hindrance than a help as last week's home opening loss to Loyola-Chicago demonstrated.
The Warriors didn't appear comfortable with each other on the court and the unfamiliar lineup had them scrambling for balls at times.
In previous years, depth -- or the lack of it -- may have been an issue as Hawaii has lost six of seven times to UCLA on the last day.
The Bruins have won this tournament five times, including the last four. Hawaii won it in 1996 and 1997 (in the latter year, three teams finished with a 2-1 record but Hawaii won on points).
UCLA coach Al Scates couldn't recall losing to Hawaii in the tournament and he attributed UCLA's success to advanced preparation.
"When did we lose?" Scates asked. "See, I forget the losses. I only remember the wins.
"We usually work the kinks out before we get there. I always make sure we get a couple of matches before we go because the competition is always so good in Hawaii.
"There will be no opportunity to play our second team this time. We're just going to have to put the strongest team out there every night. This a real balanced team. We certainly have good hitting this year."
Good hitting might not be enough with top-ranked Penn State also playing in its eighth Outrigger tournament. Led by senior All-American setter Jose Quiones, the Nittany Lions return a veteran lineup that made them the coaches' pick to win the national title .
It is the first time the Nittany Lions have started the preseason as No. 1. Penn State hosts the final four in May, which is plenty of incentive to do well.
Lewis will be the only untested team. The rest of the field has all played in at least one match. Penn State defeated Ohio State last week and UCLA went 2-1 at the UC Irvine tournament.
It may work to the Flyers' advantage though, since no team has been able to scout them. And with the exception of Fabiano Barreto, last season's newcomer of the year and a first team All-American, no one knows who to expect on the court for Lewis.
Flyers coach Dave Deuser said a stronger group of outside hitters should also keep opposing teams guessing.
"We're stronger on the outside than we were last year, which is going to make things easier for Fabiano," Deuser said. "With the firepower that we have on the left side now, that's really going to balance out our offense more and take some of the pressure off of Fabiano and keep some teams off balance."
Lewis is playing in only its second Outrigger Invitational, and Deuser said that his team has something to prove. The Flyers were unranked by Volleyball magazine, while the American Volleyball Coaches Association put them into the No. 11 spot.
"I sense a real hunger, a desire to prove that we belong in this tournament, that we belong playing this level of volleyball," Deuser said. "More than anything, the last final four we were at was in '98. There's nobody left on this team that's been to a final four for Lewis University. I really think they're hungry to pave their own way."
The Flyers aren't the only ones hungry. With the high level of competition anticipated, it's possible that these four teams could meet again in May.
Notes: In the first American Volleyball Coaches Association poll released yesterday, Penn State took the No. 1 spot, followed in order by UCLA, Stanford, Pepperdine and Hawaii in the top five. ... Hawaii split a pair of matches in the fall at Penn State. ... The Warriors are ranked third in the Volleyball magazine poll.
NO. 5 HAWAII (1-1)
Coach: Mike Wilton, 10th yearPlayers: Costas Theocharidis (6-3, Jr., OH) 6.43 kpg, 1.71 dpg, 1 bpg; Dejan Miladinovic (6-7, Sr., MB) 2.71 kpg, 2 bpg; Eyal Zimet (6-2, Jr., OH) 2.71 kpg, 2 aces, 2.57 dpg; Kimo Tuyay (6-2, So., S) 12 apg, 1.17 dpg; Delano Thomas (6-7, Jr., MB) 1.33 kpg, 3 aces, .67 bpg; Vernon Podlewski (5-8, Sr., L) 2.86 dpg.
NO. 1 PENN STATE (1-0)
Coach: Mark Pavlik, 7th yearPlayers: Jose Quiones (6-3, Sr., S) 14.25 apg, 1.50 dpg; Zach Slenker (6-5, Jr., MB) 4.25 kpg, 0.50 dpg, 1 ace; Zeljko Koljesar (6-5, Jr., Opp) 5 kpg, 1 ace, 2.25 dpg; Norm Keil (6-9, So., MB) 1.50 kpg, .50 bpg; Carlos Guerra (6-5, Jr., OH) 3.50 kpg, 1.00 dpg.
UH vs. Penn State: Hawaii leads the series 7-1. ... The Warriors have won six straight against the Nittany Lions. Hawaii's only loss to Penn State was in the NCAA semifinal in 1995.
NO. 2 UCLA (2-1)
Coach: Al Scates, 40th yearPlayers: Rich Nelson 13.5 apg 1.60 dpg, (6-3, Jr., S); Scott Morrow (6-9, Jr., MB) 1.78 kpg, 1.44 bpg; Jonathan Acosta (6-4, Fr., OH) 4 kpg, 0.90 bpg; Chris Pena (6-6, So., MB) 2.20 kpg, .60 bpg; Matt Komer (6-7, Sr., OH) 3.10 kpg, 1.40 dpg; Cameron Mount (6-8, Jr., OH) 4.11 kpg, .67 bpg; Adam Shrader (6-3, So., L) 2.70 dpg.
UH vs. UCLA: UCLA leads 40-10. ... The last time these teams met, the Bruins beat the Warriors for a bid into the NCAA tournament. ... Hawaii won at UCLA last season for the first time since 1983.
NO. 11 LEWIS (0-0)
Coach: Dave Deuser, 8th year*Players: Fabiano Barreto (6-6, So., Opp) 5.04 kpg, 1.22 dpg, 58 aces; Jose Martins (6-4, So., S) 13.48 apg, 1.67 dpg; Kevin Miller (6-8, Jr., MB) 2.52 kpg, 1.11 bpg; Gustavo Meyer (6-4, Fr., OH); James Elsea (6-6, So., MB) 2.45 kpg, 1.16 bpg; Jeff Soler (6-6, Fr., OH); Ryan Stuntz (5-10, So., L).
UH vs. Lewis: Hawaii leads the series 6-1. ... The Warriors opened the 2001 season with two wins against the Flyers.
* 2001 statistics, when applicable.
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