Azenha brings There is no denying Pedro Azenha's style and flair for volleyball.
fire to Warriors
The freshman from Brazil makes
the most of his playing time
while waiting his turn
to be a starterBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comHe is one player who doesn't just let his play do the talking. Azenha does all the talking himself too.
His fist pumping and screaming are refreshing on a team of older, stoic players who have seen just about everything life and volleyball have to offer. The freshman's energy has infused new flavor to the Warriors' blend of international acts.
But the emotional outbursts aren't an act. Azenha lets you know that he's having a good time on the court. That's just how life is back home in Brazil. Everything is done with passion.
When: 7 p.m. today and tomorrowWhere: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live, KFVE
Radio: Live, 1420-AM
Internet: uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Notes: Hawaii leads the series 32-9. Northridge's last win came in 1997. The Warriors have won eight straight, including two last season on the road. ... Tuyay moved up to fourth on the UH career assists leaders chart last week with 3,019 assists. The junior needs 13 more to pass Lyman Lacro for third. ...Theocharidis needs 158 kills to reach the 2,000-kill mark.
"In Latin culture, we express ourselves more during the match," said the Sao Paulo native. "Everybody wants to win. I'm used to screaming and celebrating more. And everyone talks a lot at the net."
The 6-foot-5 opposite could have been celebrating more often on the court had it not been for a glut of outside hitters returning from last year's championship team. The Warriors are solid at every outside spot, with seniors Costas Theocharidis, Eyal Zimet, and Tony Ching. Hawaii doesn't use a traditional opposite, which means Azenha is the odd man out.
But the freshman has found a knack for helping Hawaii out in a pinch. He has distinguished himself as an instant offensive source coming off the bench for Ching and Zimet when they've struggled. After sitting out Hawaii's first four matches for competing in an international tournament, Azenha has seen action in 15 games and is averaging 3.13 kills per game while hitting .400. His contributions, though solid, aren't enough to put him in the starting lineup.
"He is not (all-around) skilled enough yet because he's a hitting guy. He's a good hitter but he ain't a great hitter yet," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "With that in mind, somebody has to control the volleyball. We have two people on the court that can do that and that's Eyal and (Matt) Motter. Tony passes a sliver here and there and so does Costas. That does it for us. Those guys do a pretty good job with blocking and total game.
"Basically, Pedro is backing up Tony and Costas. We can get by with him not passing very much. But in floor defense, we need to see some alacrity. We think he's capable of being a good blocker, but so far we haven't seen much of that in games. We know he can hit and he has a good serve too."
Azenha isn't thrilled about not starting, but he understands the pecking order.
"We have four outside hitters conditioned to play," Azenha said. "I don't like to start on the bench. I have to be patient. I know I'll have the opportunities.
"I think it would be good if I got in. Every time I get in, I try to bring something's that's missing -- like fire, serving. If we're missing the block, then blocking."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
One area where freshman Pedro Azenha must improve is his play in practice, UH coach Mike Wilton says.
Azenha was touted as a possible replacement for Theocharidis, and his performance in his first start was convincing. The freshman blasted 25 kills and hit .467 in the Warriors' five-game loss to Stanford.
"He always comes out and brings fire," setter Kimo Tuyay said. "Just like everyone else, he wants to be out there. When he comes in, he produces right away. That's what we need and that's what we get from those guys."
But in order to see more court time, the rookie needs to practice how he plays. Azenha is one of several Warriors who have a hard time giving it their all in practice.
"He has a passion for the game. He conditions hard," Wilton said. "I want to see him put more effort into practice. That's where you show us what you can do.
"He's got a real good upside. I'm not saying he couldn't be an all-the-time player for us this year. He could. But because of rally scoring, the days of being a single-skill guy are gone. You've got to have a number of guys on the court that are volleyball players, that can play the whole game. That can dig balls, get touches, set the ball."
Azenha knows he has to be patient. It's just tough when you've been a starter nearly all your life. He grew up among Brazil's volleyball elite at the Banespa Volleyball Club. Over 4,000 people try out annually for the club, with only 50 spots available. Most of the country's volleyball Olympians have come from Banespa.
Like most of the international players on the Warrior volleyball team, Azenha took the unconventional route to Manoa. He traveled 22 hours to get to Hawaii, but the journey began long before that.
Azenha started playing volleyball at the age of 10. He spent four years with the Brazilian Junior National Team, where he won world championships twice, one each with the under-17 and under-20 teams. The most exciting moment of his volleyball career so far was defeating the Russian Junior National Team in 1998. Brazil upset Russia before 15,000 fans in Moscow.
Azenha could have started a professional playing career in Brazil, but he wanted a career and a life after volleyball.
"You can play volleyball until you're 33," Azenha said. "It's really hard on your body, especially your knees and back. I've seen players who made good money but after they're done with volleyball, they don't have a job. They didn't go to college. I see some really good players with families that end up with no money."
Azenha sent tapes to eight American schools and weighed the offers that came from each. Carlos Moreno, his teammate and best friend from the Junior National Team, tried to convince him to go to Brigham Young, where Moreno is the starting setter for the Cougars. But the beach and a warm climate couldn't be refused.
"I chose Hawaii because it's a good team and it's a good place to play volleyball," Azenha said. "The crowd offers a lot of support. I like the beach. I've always wanted to be in Hawaii."
Azenha is a journalism major and had to look no further then the person next to him at the dinner table for inspiration. His mother, Roseli Galleti, is an award-winning television news editor in Sao Paulo.
Azenha would eventually like to work in broadcast journalism back in Brazil, but for now he's focused on volleyball.
Azenha is a super sub but will have to become super sophomore next season when the Warriors lose Theocharidis, Zimet and Ching. For Theocharidis, the heir to his throne is apparent.
"He's a great player. He's really experienced," Theocharidis said. "He played in one of the best leagues in the world in Brazil. He brings a lot of experience.
"He might not have that much playing time now. He might have more as the season progresses, but for sure I think he's the go-to guy for the next few years."
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE (8-4, 4-3 mpsf) Probable starters
Ht. KPG Aces Digs S Ty Tramblie (Jr.) 6-0 0.28 8 1.52 MB Scott Arneson (Jr.) 6-4 2.09 0 0.53 MB Stan Douglas (Jr.) 6-6 1.72 3 0.44 OH Nils Nielsen (So.) 6-4 3.54 3 1.27 OH Tamer George (Sr.) 6-5 1.80 0 1.00 Opp Joe Nargi (Sr.) 6-7 5.02 9 0.98 L Doug English (Jr.) 6-2 n/a n/a 3.09 HAWAII (8-2, 4-2)
Ht. KPG Aces Digs S Kimo Tuyay (Jr.) 6-2 .57 1 0.92 MB Delano Thomas (So.) 6-7 3.08 21 0.41 MB Joshua Stanhiser (Jr.) 6-10 1.89 1 0.11 OH Costas Theocharidis (Sr.) 6-3 5.08 7 1.81 OH Tony Ching (Sr.) 6-2 3.11 9 1.86 Opp Eyal Zimet (Sr.) 6-2 2.00 6 1.70 L Matt Motter (Fr.) 6-4 n/a n/a 2.10
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