Hawai'i confident it will get at-large berth

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

MALIBU, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team made a list, checked it twice, and came to this conclusion: It will receive the at-large berth for the NCAA final four tournament in University Park, Pa.

"We're going, we're there, we're playing," UH coach Mike Wilton said.

Despite losing to Pepperdine in last night's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship match, the Warriors have earned enough merit points to receive the at-large berth, Wilton said.

UH is ranked No. 2 nationally and finished second to Pepperdine in the country's best conference. Brigham Young and Loyola-Chicago have made claims to the at-large berth. While UH split two-match series against both schools, Wilton said, the Warriors have the advantage in records against ranked teams and schedule strength. Wilton said it is unlikely BYU, which finished fourth in the MPSF and was ousted in the semifinals of the conference tournament, could vault past UH.

Wilton said the three-member selection committee has sent mixed messages.

"You know how administrators are," Wilton said. "They sit on the fence a lot. They must have sore crotches."

But Wilton said, at worst, there is a 99 percent likelihood the Warriors will receive the at-large berth when the invitations are announced this morning. The players were told as much before yesterday's match.

UH already has booked airplane and hotel reservations for the final four. The Warriors leave tomorrow morning, and they will be joined at the final four by UH president Evan Dobelle and athletic director Hugh Yoshida. Several boosters also have made reservations.

"I'll be really (annoyed) if we don't get the bid," UH setter Kimo Tuyay said. "There shouldn't be anybody else going."

By Wilton's calculations, the Warriors will receive the No. 2 seed and face host Penn State in the semifinals Thursday. Penn State earned a five-game victory over George Mason in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association championship match last night.

Ball State defeated Loyola-Chicago to win the Midwest title. Wilton said Pepperdine and Ball State will meet in the other semifinal.

The nationally televised championship match is Saturday.

UH could have secured the MPSF's automatic berth in the final four by winning last night. UH has never won an MPSF volleyball title nor an NCAA championship.

"That would have been great to make history," UH outside hitter Eyal Zimet said. "Our goal is still ahead. Hopefully, we can win the NCAA title and make another type of history."