Advertiser Staff
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team headed north — from San Diego to Long Beach for tonight’s match and from second place to atop the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation standings.
But while acknowledging the success of moving into first place in the MPSF’s competitive Pacific Division with a 5-1 league record, UH coach Mike Wilton cautioned that it all could fall apart as part of a Pyramid scheme.
"We have to wait and see what the future brings," said Wilton, noting the sixth-ranked Warriors will not be at full strength for the 5:30 p.m. (Hawai‘i time) match against No. 3 Long Beach State in the Pyramid.
UH’s best hitter, Costas Theocharidis, is recovering from food poisoning and is not expected to play. Also, setter Kimo Tuyay had a recurrence of the flu and also is expected to be MIA.
"If those two guys can’t play, it will be a real test of ability for the rest of the players to step it up," Wilton said.
Theocharidis was hospitalized hours before the start of Tuesday’s three-game sweep of UC San Diego after complaining of nausea. It originally was feared that he suffered from colitis, an inflammation of the colon, but the cause later was diagnosed as food poisoning.
"I lost a lot of weight, and I feel sick," Theocharidis said.
He attended but did not participate in yesterday’s two-hour practice. When asked about his availability, he paused and said, "I don’t think so. · I’m not OK."
Tony Ching, who started in place of Theocharidis and had a season-high 13 kills Tuesday, will earn the start in the Warriors’ new offense, which uses three outside hitters.
If Tuyay is unavailable, Kyle Denitz will start at setter. Wilton said Denitz should have no problems orchestrating the Warriors’ offense, although he is not as effective a blocker as Tuyay.
The 49ers are expected to attack the Warriors’ block with towering outside hitters Jim Polster and Scott Touzinsky. Polster is 6 feet 6; the 6-5 Touzinsky has 20 aces this season. On Tuesday, opposite hitter David McKienzie had 20 kills and 10 digs.
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