[ WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL ]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii’s Delano Thomas hit the ball against UCLA as Joshua Stanhiser watched during their match against UCLA on Saturday.
UH’s passing woes
proved costlyThe Warriors will be spectators at
the volleyball final four after losing
in the MPSF tournament
They had one last breakfast together yesterday morning before making their final trip back to Honolulu as the 2004 Warrior volleyball team. There was plenty of food for thought as well.
There had been a lot of promise for Hawaii when the season started four months ago, as well as a short-lived No. 1 ranking. The goal was to be playing at home the week after next, instead of being spectators at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, they saved their worst for last. On Saturday, UCLA exploited Hawaii's passing weakness in sweeping the Warriors out of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs, the first time this year they had lost 3-0.
It underscored what has to be done during the offseason: become a better passing team. It is a challenge that coach Mike Wilton has given to the returning players -- he has 10 from this year's squad as well as five redshirts -- and to his coaching staff in terms of recruiting.
"The No. 1 priority is to have two good passers on the court next year, either from within the current roster or outside with new players," said Wilton. "It could be one of the guys we have right now, but there's got to be a lot of dues paying this summer.
"We have a lot coming back and good prospects for the future, locally, internationally and the contiguous 48. We had a lot of power this year, but you have to pass well enough to use it and, especially Saturday, we couldn't use it."
Five players ended their careers with a 17-12 finish and UH's poorest showing in the MPSF Tournament since 2000, when the Warriors were also eliminated in the first round. Gone are setter Kimo Tuyay, middle Josh Stanhiser, hitters Arri Jeschke and Ryan Woodward, and hitter/libero Jake Muise.
The latter three were part-time players this season, filling key roles when four teammates were suspended for a week last month. Muise will be back next season as a graduate assistant.
"Jake will be working with our second-court guys," said Wilton. "He'll be given an outline each day and run things. It's something we haven't had and we're happy we have him to do it."
Stanhiser, who started his UH career as a basketball player, will graduate next month. An All-MPSF honorable-mention selection, he ranked among the top five nationally in hitting percentage this season and leaves as the school's career leader in hitting percentage (.478). He would have set the single-season mark for hitting percentage (.495) but was 16 kills shy of the required minimum of 250.
There will be no asterisks for Tuyay, who led the Warriors to the 2002 NCAA title. He became the UH career leader in assists in the April 16 victory at Pepperdine and finishes with 4,622.
The Warriors will miss Tuyay's leadership but have very capable replacements in freshman Brian Beckwith, who started the first 19 matches of the season, and junior Daniel Rasay, who backed up Tuyay in 2002 and 2003.
"Who will be our setter next year will be decided in fall camp," said Wilton. "That's the proper and fair way to do it. It was real close between Danny and Brian this year and we only dress two setters."
Beckwith made it clear that it was a job he wanted after he set the last half of Saturday's match.
"I'll try and take control of this team next year," said Beckwith. "We have a lot coming back."
The Warriors return 80 percent of their offense, led by junior Delano Thomas (392 kills, 47 aces), sophomore Pedro Azenha (361 kills, 53 aces) and sophomore Matt Bender (257 kills).
Thomas moved to outside hitter this season after an All-America sophomore year in the middle. Wilton said he doesn't know if he'll move Thomas back next season. The middle looks good without him, with sophomores Mauli'a LaBarre (124 blocks) and Dio Dante (17 blocks) back.
Thomas will be training with the U.S. national team from early May until June 23.
"Delano will get good training experience this summer with the national team," said Wilton. "It will either be a rude awakening for him or he'll come to realize he needs to pay more dues. It's up to him."
Hawaii will also return current sophomore libero Alfred Reft (238 digs). Redshirt freshman Matt Carere (6-foot-4 hitter) is considered the top prospect as the secondary passer for next year.
"Truth be told, it was very much a transitional year for us," said Wilton. "We had a lot of inexperienced guys making their maiden voyage through the league. That's tougher than some people think. Not everyone sails through their first year like a Yuval (Katz) or Costas (Theocharidis).
"There was a lot that was good this season, especially considering the various changes that took place, dictated by suspensions, sickness and injury. We are what we were: inexperienced. Sometimes we could be better than anyone else in the country and sometimes not."
Expect some fireworks: Wilton will be traveling to Provo for the MPSF semifinals Thursday at BYU and "I'll be up in the stands being a grouch," he said.
That may be nothing compared to what will take place at the conference meeting on Friday. There is much grumbling throughout the league over allegations of improper recruiting, use of pro athletes and statements being made to the media before investigations are completed.
Wilton took issue with UCLA coach Al Scates' description of Theocharidis as "the consummate professional" and "the only player ever declared ineligible by the NCAA" in last week's issue of the UCLA campus newspaper.
"There should be some heated discussion," said Wilton. "There's a lot of bad feelings over the eligibility stuff. There's a lot of ill will and that's something we need to come to grips with.
"Long Beach State will definitely be the home team Thursday."
Long Beach State will face UCLA in the opening semifinal at Smith Fieldhouse.
Looking forward to next season
A look at who's returning and who's leaving the Warriors:Returning players
Brock Hutchins OH 6-3 Fr. Eric Kalima L 5-9 Fr. Jose Delgado OH 6-3 So. Matt Carere OH 6-4 Jr. Brian Beckwith S 6-6 Fr. Alfred Reft L 5-10 So. Pedro Azenha OH 6-5 So. Matt Bender OH 6-3 So. Brian Villaroman L 5-10 Fr. Maulia La Barre So 6-8 So. D. Thomas OH/MB 6-7 Jr. Daniel Rasay S 6-2 Jr. Dio Dante MB 6-7 So. Kimball Taylor OH 6-5 Fr. Departing seniors
Kimo Tuyay S 6-2 Jake Muise L 6-0 Arri Jeschke OH/L 6-2 Ryan Woodward OH 6-3 Joshua Stanhiser MB 6-10 Note: Classes for returning players are from this season
