Posted on: Wednesday, March 28, 2001
UH volleyball team plays UC Irvine tonight
Advertiser Staff
To prepare for a four-night marathon of matches, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team went to the races.
"The team needed to relax," outside hitter Costas Theocharidis said of last night's excursion to a go-cart track near the team's hotel in Cypress, Calif.
The break ends tonight, when the second-ranked Warriors play UC Irvine in cozy Crawford Hall. The Warriors play at UCLA tomorrow night and Friday night, then return to Crawford Hall for the rematch against UC Irvine Saturday night.
UH is 14-3 overall and 9-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. UC Irvine is 9-10 and 5-7, and UCLA is 17-5 and 9-3. UH is atop the Pacific Division; UC Irvine and UCLA are in the Mountain Division.
"Our goal is to win all of the matches on this trip," Theocharidis said.
For the first time in two weeks, the Warriors will be at full strength, if not full health. Outside hitter Tony Ching, the team's top reserve, played in an exhibition on Saturday after missing three matches because of injuries suffered in a mo-ped accident more than two weeks ago.
It has not been determined whether Ching or Torry Tukuafu will start at opposite hitter. They shared the position before Ching's injury.
Outside hitter Eyal Zimet, who did not play in the last three matches because of a stress fracture in his left shin, practiced yesterday and is expected to start tonight. Zimet is the Warriors' best server and an accurate passer.
Also, Theocharidis, who has battled stomach problems during road trips the last two years, said he is feeling fine. During UH's last road trip last month, Theocharidis was hospitalized with food poisoning. This time, Theocharidis said, he packed cookies and bottled water from Hawai'i, and bought ham, cheese and bagels at a local grocery store. He said the team's hotel has refrigerators in every room.
"It's a pretty nice hotel," Theocharidis said. "Thank God, so far, everybody is healthy."
The Warriors appear to be rested, although admittedly "rusty," Theocharidis said. Their last three matches were exhibitions against club teams.
But they had strong practices the past two days. They also appear confident that freshman setter Kimo Tuyay, who has struggled with his set placements in recent matches, is back in the groove. Tuyay had set accurately while wearing a splint to protect a sprained left index finger. But when the splint was removed two weeks ago, he began to struggle with his control.
Because of spring break, the Warriors arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday. During spring break at UH, boarding students must leave their dormitory rooms. Figuring the Warriors will receive per diem, anyway, Wilton decided to bring the team to California a few days early.
