Posted on: Tuesday, May 15, 2001
6-foot-3 setter joins Warrior volleyball team
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Proving there really is no end to Isle construction projects, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team received a commitment from 6-foot-3 setter Terry Rasch of Lancaster, Calif.
Since bidding aloha to seniors Brenton Davis and Torry Tukuafu at last week's banquet, the Warriors have added outside hitters Jose Jose Delgado and Aaron Payne, and middle blocker Joshua Stanhiser. Last November, 6-foot-6 middle blocker Delano Thomas of Sacramento, Calif., signed a letter of intent.
The Warriors still might not be done. They are interested in an outside hitter who played in last week's Armed Forces Volleyball Tournament at Fort Shafter.
Last season, the Warriors depended on eight players. The UH coaches vowed to improve the depth through recruiting and player development.
Rasch is expected to challenge setter Kimo Tuyay, the conference's co-Freshman of the Year, and backup Kyle Denitz. Rasch, who recently completed a church mission, has five years to play four seasons.
Delgado, a member of Puerto Rico's Junior team, signed his letter of intent. His mother co-signed it, and will fax a copy to UH this morning.
The 6-foot-10 Stanhiser, who is serving a student mission in Hawai'i, is expected to receive partial financial aid. The NCAA limits a men's volleyball team to offering the equivalent of 4.5 scholarships. Next year, nine Warriors will receive some sort of financial aid, including libero Vernon Podlewski.
Podlewski, who was raised on Maui and played two years at Santa Barbara Community College, joined the Warriors in January. Last month, he was named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's first team. For Podlewski's efforts, he was "getting a hearty handshake," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "He'll get an upgrade."
Wilton said he is not counting on the return of middle blocker Rob Drew, who withdrew from school to recover from colitis. The 6-foot-8 Drew, who weighed 245 pounds last year, now weighs 170 pounds.
"The main thing is for him to get healthy again," Wilton said.
