DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM UH volleyball teammates Jake Schkud and Brian Beckwith have been friends since they were 13 years old.

UH’s Beckwith, Schkud
a winning combo

The two Warriors are out to bring
a national title to Hawaii

They have a connection, a special one, honed from shared teenage angst and countless hours on the volleyball court.

Brian Beckwith and Jake Schkud grew up in the sport together and grew even closer as friends. It began with tryouts for Palisades (Calif.) Volleyball Club as 13-year-olds and continued through high school and the USA Volleyball youth and junior national team ranks.

Ball State at Hawaii When: Today and tomorrow, 7 p.m. Where: Stan Sheriff Center TV: Both matches live, KFVE (Ch. 5) Radio: Tomorrow's match only, KCCN (1420-AM). Tickets: $3-$12. Children (high school-age and younger) free

And, after a season of separation on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, the two have been reunited at Hawaii. If this week's practice plan carries over to tonight's match with Ball State, they'll be in the starting lineup as Warriors for the first time together, Beckwith at setter and Schkud transitioning from middle blocker to the outside.

"When we are together, good stuff happens," Schkud said.

It has taken nearly two years to get to this point.

The two shared a magical senior season at Loyola High in Los Angeles, going 20-0, winning the CIF Southern Section title and the mythical high school championship bestowed by Volleyball magazine. They came on their recruiting trip here together ... then split on their college choice, with Beckwith choosing the Warriors and Schkud picking UC Santa Barbara.

"Coming from a close family, I didn't know if I could handle being out here in Hawaii, knowing I'd probably redshirt," said Schkud, who grew up in Santa Monica. "Santa Barbara was only a car ride away from home. I know now I should have come here from the beginning."

Schkud ended up redshirting for the Gauchos, while Beckwith started 18 of Hawaii's 32 matches last year. They talked ... a lot.

"I was disappointed that he didn't come out here to start with," Beckwith said. "We're good friends, but it's not a decision a friend can make. It was a tough decision, one I couldn't make for him.

"When he told me he was transferring here, I was super stoked. I immediately asked him to room with me. I knew what kind of contributions he could make to our team."

It's been mostly in the practice gym for Schkud, who has played sparingly in six matches for the Warriors. At 6-foot-4-ish, he's undersized for a collegiate middle blocker, a position he has played at the international level.

The plan is to convert him to a left-side hitter, but the UH coaches would first like to see Schkud pass the ball more efficiently. This week in practice, he has held his own in that category against his competition for the spot: juniors Jose Delgado and Matt Carere, and sophomore Lauri Hakala.

"Every school that recruited me wanted to transition me into an outside hitter," Schkud said. "I know I'm small for a middle blocker. It does suck that I'm 6-4, but I play big.

"I'm a team player. I don't mind the bench. I think that the best person should be playing and that's what I like about it here. There doesn't seem to be any politics. I've put in extra time on the court and in the weight room. I hope it's paid off and that I'll start this weekend. I want to prove that I can play and hopefully have that spot for the next 3 1/2 years."

Mike Boehle had Beckwith for four seasons at Loyola High, an all-boys Catholic school and the oldest high school in Los Angeles. He had Schkud, who transferred from Santa Monica High, for two.

"I was fortunate to coach the two of them, Boehle said. "Those two guys would do anything you would ask. Their will to succeed is extraordinary. I was happy when Jake called to tell me he was going to be reunited with Brian at Hawaii.

"I saw their matches at UCLA (Feb. 25-26) and, even though Jake didn't play, it brought back great memories of coaching the two of them. They were such great leaders and the way they played together is what made us so successful. It will be great to see them play together again."

UH associate head coach Tino Reyes saw Schkud when he scouted Beckwith at a youth national team match several years ago. Though the U.S. team finished third, Schkud was voted the best blocker at the NORCECA championship.

"We liked them both; they had been playing together 3-4 years already and had that unspoken thing where they functioned real well together," Reyes said. "Schkud's undersized for a middle and we knew we'd have to convert him to outside or opposite. He's a smart enough player to do that.

"He's been in some big games before. He made the (junior national) team last summer as an opposite. We'll just have to see what happens when we put him out there. He may just be a gamer."

Schkud has Beckwith's vote.

"There's a reason he has been on the national teams every year, there's a reason he has been the captain of those teams," Beckwith said. "He has dominated in international competition.

"He's one of the smartest players I've every played with and we've played together at extremely high levels with the USA teams. When he's given the chance here, everyone in Hawaii will be able to see his talent."

It's not a difficult pass for Schkud to return the compliment.

"I think Brian is the best setter in the nation," Schkud said. "He's matured a lot as a player. I don't care what anyone says about (Long Beach State's) Tyler Hildebrandt or anyone. Brian has more to offer to the game."

Coming into this week, Hildebrandt and Beckwith were 1-2 nationally in assists, with the 49ers setter averaging 14.20 assists per game to Beckwith's 13.46.

The pair hope to continue their success together this summer as part of the USA team competing at the Junior Men's Under-21 World Championships in Vizakhapatnam, India, in August. They'd like to continue playing internationally "as long as they let us," Beckwith said. "Making the Olympic team for China (2008) would be a lot of hard work on our parts ... 2012 would be more realistic.

"But before that, we are going to win the national championship. It WILL happen before we graduate. A lot of people doubted our decision to come out here and they give us a hard time for always playing together. But pretty much all the good teams we've been on have been the ones we've played on together. It works and we win, so to hell with it."

"And this year would be a good year to do it," Schkud added. "It's in our hometown (hosted by UCLA in Los Angeles). We're doing everything in our power to make it happen. We are going to win it while we are here."

Together.