[ UH VOLLEYBALL ]
Strong field highlights
volleyball tournamentThe Outrigger Invitational features
Lewis, Penn State, Hawaii
and Manitoba
The pizza party that the boosters threw last Saturday for the Hawaii men's volleyball team is nothing compared to this week's Outrigger Invitational.
The 10th annual event can truly be called "The Works," with four talented teams trying to turn up the heat on the Stan Sheriff Center oven tomorrow through Saturday. It features the defending college champions from the U.S. (top-ranked Lewis) and Canada (Manitoba) as well as No. 4 Hawaii and No. 8 Penn State.
10th Outrigger Invitational
What: Men's college volleyballWhere: Stan Sheriff Center
Tomorrow: Lewis vs. Manitoba, 5 p.m.; Penn State at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Friday: Lewis vs. Penn State, 5 p.m.; Manitoba at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Saturday: Manitoba vs. Penn State, 5 p.m.; Lewis at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Tickets: No package, individual nights only. Lower section: $14; Upper section: $11 adults, $9 senior citizens, $3 UH students and students 4-18
Radio: All Hawaii matches live, KKEA (1420-AM)
TV: All matches live, KFVE (Ch. 5)
It could very well be -- sans Manitoba -- a three-quarter preview of the final four scheduled for May 6-8 at the Sheriff Center. The Flyers, Warriors and Nittany Lions certainly would like that.
But success in the early part of the season doesn't always translate to success at the end of the year. Last year, Hawaii finished second in this tournament, losing only to Shanghai Oriental. The Warriors failed to make it past the conference tournament semifinal.
Penn State opened 2003 0-3 here, but made it to the national semifinals, where the Nittany Lions fell to eventual runner-up Brigham Young.
Lewis also opened its season here last year, a week prior to the tournament. The Flyers lost twice to the Warriors before winning 29 of their next 32 matches to become the first Division II team to claim the men's volleyball title.
"Win or lose, this tournament will do nothing but help us," said Lewis coach Dave Deuser. "I used to get stressed over wanting to get a great start so we could establish a solid early ranking. I've realized that those early matches aren't as important to me. Because even if you start off playing really well, it's impossible to sustain that for four months. Realistically, I don't care where we're at in January, because all that really matters is peaking in April and early May."
That would mean a return trip here in four months. If all goes well with the NCAA infractions committee, both Lewis and Hawaii will have put behind eligibility issues that have threatened the two schools' respective championships.
The Warriors are still waiting on their appeal that was heard by the NCAA some three weeks ago regarding their 2002 title. A decision was to have been rendered within 30 days, but the NCAA asked for additional information last month.
Hawaii was stripped of its national title last September after the NCAA found that the Warriors had used an ineligible player during their 2002 championship run. Two-time AVCA Player of the Year Costas Theocharidis was considered a professional athlete by the NCAA's revised standards for professionalism. The Greek native did not accept money or sign a contract with any professional leagues in Greece, but did compete against professional players.
Also last month, Lewis self-reported what was considered a "serious infraction" regarding Gustavo Meyer, a junior All-American. Meyer, who sat out six matches last year as a penalty for outside participation, did not make the trip this week and was declared ineligible by the school pending the investigations.
The focus is on this week and this season, according to both Deuser and Hawaii's Mike Wilton, and not on the NCAA investigations.
However, NCAA representatives from the tournament championships committee are making a site inspection this week and meeting with UH officials regarding preparations for the upcoming final four.
What they'll see is "a typical Outrigger, nothing but great competition," said Wilton. "There's no cannon fodder here."
MPSF bid: Hawaii is putting its final proposal together to host the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament from April 27 to May 1. The bid includes hotel and travel accommodations, and a breakdown of projected revenue vs. expenses.
UH officials are also looking at sponsorship, but "we haven't solidified that part yet," said UH associate athletic director Tom Sadler. "This is a great place to play volleyball. Initially we were going to put in for a three-year deal, but we decided to go with one year and see how it goes."
The MPSF executive committee will meet later this month and make its decision.
The conference tournament site is up in the air. So, too, was this year's NCAA final four site ... briefly.
NCAA officials had contacted the UH athletic department, suggesting that Hawaii might not want to host the final four in light of the 2002 title possibly being taken away.
"They made overtures and tried to get us not to have the tournament," Wilton said. "But Herman (Frazier, UH athletic director) and I were very determined that we host."
Said Sadler: "There was some discussion. They gave us opportunities to pull out in case we thought there would be some kind of backlash."
The 10th annual
A look at the four teams, with last year's record in parenthesis:
Outrigger Invitational
HAWAII (24-6)
The Warriors lost three experienced outside hitters from last year's team that led the conference in hitting, kills, aces and assists. And it appears that at least two of the returning starters have lost their jobs this season to newcomers ... at least for now.Hawaii started freshman setter Brian Beckwith and sophomore transfer Alfred Reft at libero in Friday's win over the alumni. The two have replaced senior co-captains Kimo Tuyay and Jake Muise, respectively.
Another change has junior All-American Delano Thomas moving from the middle to outside. Two familiar faces are also back after time off in sophomore hitter Jose Delgado, a redshirt in 2003, and sophomore blocker Mauli'a LaBarre, who played sparingly in 2001 and went on a church mission the past two years.
This is the tallest team the Warriors have ever had. The starting lineup averages 6-foot-6, including the 6-6 Beckwith, the program's tallest setter ever and a member of the U.S. junior national team the past few years.
With 15 roster players -- 12 suiting up for road matches -- UH coach Mike Wilton said the lineup could change based on practice and match situations. He has three setters, but likely will have only two in uniform; he has two liberos, but may just have one in uniform.
"We have a varied and diverse group that, when you put them together, has the potential to be a very good team," Wilton said. "Actually, I'm going into the tournament with the feeling that we're the underdogs all three nights.
"We have a lot to prove. It's a whole new team and has got a big growth curve in front of it."
During the fall preseason, the Warriors went 4-0 on their four-island tour against George Mason.
Hawaii leads the series with Penn State 10-1 and with Lewis 9-1. The Warriors trail the series with Manitoba 1-2.
LEWIS (29-5)
Even without junior All-American Gustavo Meyer (4.12 kpg), the Flyers are loaded with talent and experienced upper-classmen. Lewis lost only middle blocker Kevin Miller off last year's title team and Lewis coach Dave Deuser has two capable replacements in junior Greg Pochopien and sophomore Enrique Escalante.Senior hitter Fabiano Barreto is looking to become the program's second three-time All-American. He could be joined by senior Ryan Stuntz, a two-time All-American libero and a member of the World University Games team this past summer.
Also back is senior blocker James Elsea, an all-conference pick who was third in hitting percentage nationally last year. Junior hitter Jeff Soler, one of the team's primary passers, also returns.
The Flyers are again in the hands of setter J.R. Martins, a third-team All-American last year.
"We're excited to be returning to the Outrigger," said Deuser, whose team last competed in 2002. "We feel it's the premier tournament in the country and it's a great way to start our season."
Deuser gave his team Christmas break off and, after arriving Monday evening, had three practices to prepare for the tournament. It begins what Deuser calls the toughest schedule in his 11 seasons.
The Flyers return home to host the Cheddars Invitational. They face Pepperdine on Jan. 16, in a rematch of the NCAA semifinal, then see Penn State again on Jan. 17.
The Flyers are 6-7 against Penn State, but have won six of the last eight meetings. Lewis handed the Nittany Lions their only home loss in 15 matches last season and are 3-0 at Rec Hall, site of the 2006 NCAA final four.
Lewis went 6-0 during the fall preseason, with five wins over Canadian teams and one over Southern California.
Deuser already has a jump on next season. He has signed Iolani School senior Sean Carney, considered one of the top three setters in the nation.
PENN STATE (26-6)
Nittany Lions coach Mark Pavlik left the Stan Sheriff Center a year ago shaking his head after his team went 0-3. Penn State responded to the rude wake-up call with 26 wins in the next 29 matches and going 14-0 in conference play.It is a rebuilding year for the Lions, who lost four starters and 75 percent of their offense from the team that fell to BYU in the national semifinals. Gone are All-American hitter Carlos Guerra (4.50 kpg, 35 aces), all-conference opposite Zeljko Koljesar (2.77 kpg, 34 aces) and middle staple Zach Slenker (3.00 kpg, 0.88 bpg).
However, Penn State returns All-American senior middle Keith Kowal (3.03 kpg, .504, 1.46 bpg), sophomore setter Dan O'Dell (13.58) and all-conference senior libero Ricky Mattei (2.56 dpg). Also back are key reserves Matt Proper, a 6-6 sophomore middle, and senior libero Rhonee Rojas, a University High School graduate from Mililani.
The Lions also picked up USC transfer Philip Small, a 6-11 junior middle, and four freshmen Pavlik hoped would be impact players, including Fab 50 selections Kyle Masterson, a 6-6 middle, 6-3 hitter Alex Gutor, and 6-2 setter Ryan Walthall.
It will be a trial by fire for the Lions, beginning this week. Penn State then stays on the road, going to Loyola and Lewis next week then to Ball State and IPFW the following week.
"The first three weekends of our schedule are very important," said Pavlik, entering his 10th year. "We play very tough competition to start out the season, which will prepare us for our conference schedule and get us where we need to be at the end of April and the beginning of May."
As with Hawaii and Lewis, that destination would be Manoa.
MANITOBA (36-5)
The Bisons (7-3) are in midseason form, having already played 10 conference matches as well as two preseason tournaments in October. However, the team from Canada hasn't played since a 3-2 loss to last year's national runner-up Alberta on Nov. 29.In the Can-Am Challenge, Manitoba went 2-2 and finished as the top Canadian team with a 3-0 win over Long Beach State and a 3-1 loss to BYU.
Fifth-year senior setter Mike Munday runs a quick offense that is dominated by height. The starting lineup averages 6-5, including the 6-5 Munday, the MVP of last year's Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship.
The top-seeded Bisons won their third CIS university title in four years last March with a sweep of second-seeded Alberta. It was their 10th title overall and the ninth for coach Garth Pischke in his 23 years at the school.
Pischke, who took a break to coach the Canadian national team from 1996 to 2000, lost three players from last year's championship team. But the Bison put a fairly experienced lineup on the court in fifth-year players Munday, 6-3 outside hitter Murray Laidlaw and 6-0 libero Scott Masterson.
Laidlaw leads in kills with a 3.25 kpg average and Munday in aces (152).
Third-year player Josh Klassen, a 6-3 hitter, is second in kills (3.08 kpg), and 6-6 middle Andrew Heidebrecht, another third-year player, leads the team in blocks (1.05 bpg).
The Bison are also expected to start 6-6 middle Jeff Zylstra, second in blocks (0.70 bpg), and junior national team member Toon van Lankvelt, a 6-6 power hitter also in his second year.
The Bisons' other two losses have come to Winnipeg, 3-1, in the season opener, and to Regina, 3-2, which snapped a seven-match winning streak. The loss to Regina was the first time in 104 meetings that the Bisons had been defeated by the Cougars.
Manitoba currently leads the Great Plains division of the Canada West Conference at 7-3.
Cindy Luis, Star-Bulletin
