GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii sophomore Pedro Azenha blasted a kill past George Mason's Graham Sheppard during last night's exhibition match at the Stan Sheriff Center.
UH wins exhibition easily
Brilliance was not expected of the Hawaii men's volleyball team in a preseason exhibition game against George Mason.
The loss of three key seniors, an injured starting setter and an All-American playing out of position don't combine for a favorable formula. Despite playing with a lineup that has been used just four times, the Warriors dispatched the Patriots 30-25, 30-16, 30-19 at the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday.
"We were kind of rudderless in Game 1," Hawaii coach Mike Wilton said. "Brian (setter Beckwith) and our libero (transfer Alfred Reft) did a nice job of settling us down a little bit. I liked how we smoothed out. The potential of this lineup is huge."
Beckwith will definitely give the coaching staff much to think about after senior setter Kimo Tuyay returns from an ankle injury. The 6-foot-6 rookie made smart choices on the court and kept most of his hitters happy with his location and distribution.
"He's good," Wilton said. "When (Tuyay) is back, that'll be another test for the coaches and the players."
There were a few botched blocking assignments, some rough edges with passing, but not too bad for a lineup that was created fairly last minute, though junior Delano Thomas was clearly not comfortable with his move to the outside. The All-American middle blocker replaced redshirt sophomore Jose Delgado at the last minute after Delgado suffered a fractured back a week ago in practice. Thomas, who was unaccustomed to passing, was aced twice in Game 1 and didn't look at ease swinging from the left side.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
George Mason's Arturo Barreiro, left, tried in vain to block a kill attempt by Hawaii sophomore Maulia LaBarre last night.
But the Warriors saw glimpses of brilliance elsewhere on the court from sophomores Pedro Azenha and Maulia LaBarre. Azenha looked ready to assume the go-to hitter role as opposite and LaBarre hit and blocked well for his first game back after a two-year mission in Russia. He helped instigate a 5-0 Hawaii run late in Game 1. The middle blocker had a solo stuff and a kill as Hawaii pulled ahead 23-20. The Warriors ended the game with seven kills in seven swings. LaBarre sealed the game with his third kill.
"I've missed playing volleyball since I was gone on my mission," LaBarre said. "'It's just good to be home and playing. I have fun in practice. Playing games is just icing on the cake for me."
Thomas did strike with force in Game 2, bouncing a quick attack for a 9-4 Hawaii lead and reminding the smallish crowd of his natural position. The Warriors led 18-9 behind the serving of Arri Jeschke and weren't threatened the rest of the game. Hawaii revamped its lineup for Game 3. Senior Ryan Woodward and sophomore Matt Bender tasted their first game action. Bender had an ace for a 13-8 Hawaii lead. The Warriors cruised the rest of the game, on a steady supply of Patriot hitting errors.
"We're in the middle of our fall conditioning. We're trying different things and different lineups," George Mason assistant coach James Claney said. "There's a lot of inexperience, a lot of hitting errors and communication errors."
The Warriors and the Patriots play again today at the Civic auditorium on Hilo.
Notes: George Mason will be traveling for the second time in three days. The Patriots arrived early Tuesday morning after a long flight from Virginia. The Patriots are without head coach Fred Chao, who is an assistant with the school's women's volleyball team.
