University of Hawai‘i middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic decided to work on his assists.
Recalling how food poisoning kept men’s volleyball teammate Costas Theocharidis from playing in the team’s last two matches, Miladinovic said, "We cannot afford to have Costas sick anymore. Maybe I’ll cook for him."
"No, no, no," Theocharidis protested. "I don’t trust Dejan’s cooking. I prefer to starve."
To be sure, the sixth-ranked Warriors, who play host to No. 5 Stanford tomorrow night and Saturday night in the Stan Sheriff Center, have maintained their appetite for destruction.
"We’re hungry," setter Kimo Tuyay said of the Warriors, who have not played since a four-game road loss to Long Beach State on Feb. 15.
The Warriors, who are 9-3 overall and 5-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, used the two-week break to work on their serves and passes. The hiatus also gave them time to heal.
Vernon Podlewski, who plays the defensive specialist position known as libero, is recovering from a sore hip flexor. "I got to rest my body," he said.
Miladinovic, who missed last season after undergoing surgery, said his right (hitting) shoulder "feels great. It feels so great I’m actually worried. It hasn’t felt this way in a long, long while."
Tuyay, who also missed the last two matches because of the flu, is trying to regain the several pounds he lost.
"I’ll try to eat more food and get my full energy back," he said.
He also does not expect to be slowed by a sore index finger on his left hand. His left fingers were padded with sponges and wrapped in tape during yesterday’s two-hour afternoon practice in Gym II.
As for Theocharidis, the Warriors are concerned about why their All-America outside hitter sustains stomach problems on road trips. He was hospitalized briefly during the last road trip. Theocharidis also complained of stomach problems while traveling during his freshman year.
"Something always upsets my stomach negatively," Theocharidis said. "Hopefully, the next trip I’ll buy food from here and store it in my luggage."
For now, the Warriors will focus on this home stand. After next week’s matches against Pepperdine, the Warriors will play their final six MPSF matches on the road.
"We have to produce while we’re at home and while we have the home crowd," Tuyay said.
To boost attendance, the Warriors are selling a $1 ticket to each UH student with a current identification card.
"We love our (older fans)," UH coach Mike Wilton said, "but (the players) are pining for their peers to be there, too."
Said Podlewski: "We’re ready to play again. We had a nice rest, but it’s time to play."
