Volleyball Warriors deep, talented
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Mike Wilton, head coach of the defending NCAA champion University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team, believes there is no such thing as being too early.
Advertiser library photo
Before the dawn's early light, Wilton already has had breakfast, jogged, finished a weight-training workout and showered. He usually is in his third-floor office before rush-hour traffic begins.
University of Hawai'i men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton brought home the hardware last May, showing off the NCAA championship trophy at Washington Place after the Warriors won the title.
During his last contract negotiations, he requested a key to the Waterhouse Training Facility.
His detailed itineraries for road trips include specific time periods set aside for driving and grocery shopping. He distributes those itineraries, as well the entire season's practice schedule, during training camp.
It is no wonder that Wilton will not wait for the New Year to begin practicing for the coming season. The Warriors open training camp tomorrow, and their first match is against Lewis (of Illinois) Jan. 8 in the Stan Sheriff Center.
"It's always a good idea to practice before you play," Wilton mused.
The Warriors completed a successful fall training camp, which was punctuated by an eight-day trip to Shanghai in November. The Warriors lost both "official" matches to Shanghai Oriental, but Wilton was able to experiment with several lineups.
"I'm looking forward to a good season," Wilton said. "I think we'll be good, but I also think the rest of our league" — the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation — "will be good, too."
Here's a look at the 2003 Warriors:
OUTSIDE
Pedro Azenha 6-5 Fr. Sao Paolo, Brazil
Matt Bender 6-3 Fr. Tucson, Ariz.
Tony Ching 6-1 Sr. Honolulu
Jose Delgado 6-3 So. San Juan, Puerto Rico
Arri Jeschke 6-2 Jr. Santa Barbara, Calif.
Matt Motter 6-4 Fr. San Diego, Calif.
Costas Theocharidis 6-3 Sr. Orestiada, Greece
Ryan Woodward 6-3 Sr. Mililani
Eyal Zimet 6-2 Sr. Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz, Israel
Outlook: There is enough depth that Jose Delgado, who was third in kills (2.72 per game) as a freshman last season, will redshirt. "The one provision," Wilton said, "is he will play if we have a lot of injuries."
Delgado had a strong fall, and was included on the 12-player travel roster to Shanghai. But he had little chance of unseating last year's starters — Theocharidis, Ching and Zimet — and, Wilton said, redshirting Delgado would alleviate "the logjam" on the outside.
It also will open the way for Azenha, a power-hitter who also can play in the middle. Although Azenha is a freshman, he played three years on Brazil's Junior National team, and it is believed he is more prepared for the NCAA game than even Delgado was last season. Azenha will have to sit out the first four matches because of his participation in an international tournament.
Theocharidis, the 2001 national Player of the Year, slumped late in the regular season when he played opposite hitter, where he was on the right side for five of the six rotations. But he regained his swing when he moved back to the left side for the postseason. Zimet, who finished the season as the opposite hitter, was injury-free in the fall for the first time since 2000.
MIDDLE
Dio Dante 6-7 Fr. Kula, Maui
Shaun Frederick 6-8 Jr. Wai'anae
Brian Nordberg 6-5 Sr. Milwaukee, Wis.
Joshua Stanhiser 6-10 Jr. Loma Linda, Calif.
Delano Thomas 6-7 So. Sacramento, Calif..
Outlook: The departure of Dejan Miladinovic, who completed his eligibility in May, was expected to leave a 6-foot-7 hole in UH's defense. But Thomas has developed into an even better middle than Miladinovic — at least on offense — and Wilton was able to persuade Stanhiser to transfer from the UH basketball team. Stanhiser is quick and has a smooth swing, although he needs to improve on his block recognition. Thomas' blocking skills were never in question; the UH football team wanted to use him as kick-blocker.
Nordberg missed all of fall training while recovering from shoulder surgery. He has been declared healthy, but, for now, Stanhiser and Thomas are listed as the starters. Wilton said Frederick also could see playing time, although when rosters are limited to 12 during conference play, Thomas, Stanhiser and Nordberg will be the only middles activated.
Dante will redshirt, and JoJo Chala "retired" to focus on his music career.
SETTER
Matt Motter 6-4 Fr. San Diego
Daniel Rasay 6-2 So. Kailua-Kona
Kimo Tuyay 6-2 Jr. San Diego
Outlook: Rasay served as the "closer" in the NCAA semifinal match, but Tuyay rebounded to play well in the championship. While Wilton likes having two capable setters, the hope is that Tuyay will not experience a recurrence of control problems. In the past two years, Tuyay has endured finger injuries, a likely result from trying to block shots. Motter, who is Tuyay's beach-volleyball teammate, also can set.
LIBERO
Arri Jeschke 6-2 Jr. Santa Barbara, Calif.
Eric Kalima 5-9 Fr. Honolulu
Matt Motter 6-4 Fr. San Diego
Jake Muise 6-0 Jr. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Outlook: Whoever wins the libero job will bring a new dimension — height. Vernon Podlewski, who was wishfully listed at 5 feet 8, was a fearless defender who had a knack for finding the setter. Motter, Jeschke and Muise are each at least 6 feet, and their height will help them track down ricochets off touches that Podlewski had difficulty reaching.
Motter, Jeschke and Muise scored high on passing drills in the fall; Zimet and Theocharidis, actually, were the most accurate.
The 6-foot-4 Motter lost about 25 pounds — he now weighs 210 — but needs to improve his leg strength. In the first Shanghai match, Muise started, but Jeschke ended the match at libero. Wilton said he won't decide on a starter until after the first few practices.
