Warriors out to get even with the Beach

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Costas Theocharidis isn't worried.

It's Friday. It's the end of the week. No problem.

Long Beach State better watch out: Midterms are over, he said, and the Warriors are out for revenge.

"We're going to be really fired up," said the junior outside hitter, who led the team with 25 kills in Wednesday's disappointing loss to the Beach. "It's going to be different. We've seen how they play, we'll adjust our defense and blocking. We'll see. It's going to be a big game (tonight)."

No. 3 Hawai'i (9-3 overall, 6-1 MPSF) looks to avenge its first conference loss this season against No. 12 Long Beach State (7-8, 5-4) tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

With a difficult midterm now behind him, Theocharidis, normally very intense on the court, said the team should be more focused on the match this time around.

"People had other concerns other than volleyball," he said.

A two-week hiatus may have hurt the Warriors, who were on a six-match winning streak before Wednesday's loss.

But they aren't using that as an excuse.

They just have to learn to rebound and adjust.

And not take the Beach lightly.

"We said we'd play well, but we didn't," Theocharidis said. "That's it."

Despite a setter change midway through Game 3, the Beach adjusted to its new lineup. Junior setter Jeremy Blain moved the ball around, setting the outsides high and away and the middles soft and quick. Four players ended the night with double figures in kills.

Hawai'i searched for its answer, replacing starting setter Kimo Tuyay with Daniel Rasay in the second set, the only game the Warriors won, hitting .467 as a team.

But, for whatever reason, even Rasay couldn't remain consistent.

"I have no idea why," admitted a baffled Tino Reyes, who works with the setters during practice. "We just weren't good as a whole team. It was a total team meltdown."

After watching film on Wednesday's match, they worked on the basics — passing, serving, setting — with consistency as their focus.

"They were really struggling with fundamentals," said UH head coach Mike Wilton.

Said senior libero Vernon Podlewski: "Volleyball is volleyball, it's tough no matter what. It doesn't matter what your opponent does. If we play our game, we'll be fine."