Warriors focus on national title

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team has canceled its mixed-pate order.

Costas Theocharidis averaged 5.42 kills per game and was named the country's top player last season. He's ready to carry the load again: "I'll take as many swings as the team needs me to take," he said. Advertiser library photo • April 28, 2001

The team to dye for is now going natural.

"I'll have it back to normal by the first game," said outside hitter Jeffrey Gleason, running his fingers through his bleached 'do.

"I think this might help their social life," Wilton mused.

Outside hitter Costas Theocharidis, whose hair is back to its natural dark brown, said the Warriors have more important concerns now.

"This year," he said, "we're going for the championship. We're going all the way. It's about time."

Last year, the Warriors beat eventual NCAA champion Brigham Young in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinals, but lost to UCLA in the final and did not receive the at-large berth in the NCAA final four.

By the end of the season, injuries and inexperience limited the Warriors to a rotation of eight players.

The Warriors have increased their depth, adding two middle blockers, and outside hitters Tony Ching and Eyal Zimet have made full recoveries from injuries. Wilton said little-used libero Jake Muise and setter Daniel Rasay, who redshirted last season, improved during fall training and are expected to receive significant playing time.

As the team prepares for Tuesday's season opener against Loyola-Chicago, here's a position-by-position look:

MIDDLE BLOCKER

Dejan Miladinovic averaged 1.99 blocks per game last season.		Brian Nordberg is a transfer from UC Santa Barbara.

3 Rob Drew, 6-8, Sr., San Diego, Calif.
2 Geronimo Chala, 6-6, Jr., Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
1 Dejan Miladinovic, 6-7, Sr., Kraljevo, Serbia
16 Brian Nordberg, 6-5, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.
17 Delano Thomas, 6-7 Fr., Sacramento, Calif.

Outlook: Miladinovic, a fifth-year senior, led the country with 1.99 blocks per game. He also said he is feeling no discomfort in his right shoulder, which was surgically repaired in 1999, despite suffering from tendinitis near the end of last season.

"I should be fine," he said. "I'm doing exercises on a daily basis. That should do it."

Miladinovic, who also can take swings from the perimeter, is a quick leaper who is skilled at reading an opposing setter's tactics.

"It's a matter of focusing and paying attention," he said. "And sometimes it's luck."

Thomas, the jewel of the recruiting class, struggled early in fall training, but has improved his block reads in recent weeks. He will play frequently, although Nordberg, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara is expected to start.

"Brian is ahead, because of experience, but there's a nice little competition over there," Wilton said.

Nordberg, who hit .437 and averaged 2.33 kills per game last season, said he left the Gauchos because of "personal reasons. I was ready for a change, and Hawai'i has been a good fit."

Chala redshirted last season and suffered a double fracture in his lower right leg in September. He said he has fully recovered, although he wears a brace on his right ankle.

Drew, who missed last season because of a stomach ailment, remains on the roster, although he is not expected to play.

LIBERO

Vernon Peddlewski, the Warrior's smallest player, lost 8 pounds since last season to help improve his speed.		Jake Muise, who was expected to be the defensive specialist last season, will be pushing for more playing time.

5 Jake Muise, 6-0, So., Halifax, Nova Scotia
7 Vernon Podlewski, 5-8, Sr., Haliimaile, Maui
12 Marvin Yamada, 5-8, So. Barrigada Heights, Guam

Outlook: The team's smallest player just got smaller. Podlewski lost eight pounds since the start of last season and now weighs 165.

"I needed to be a little quicker," said Podlewski, whose conditioning program included running, cardiovascular exercises and weight training.

But in a what-goes-around scenario, Podlewski is now being pushed by Muise, who was expected to be the defensive specialist last season. Muise lost the job when Podlewski enrolled at UH last January.

SETTER

Kimo Tuyay has emerged as a team leader and is better focused this year.		Daniel Rasay is moving up the depth charts, passing junior Kyle Denitz.

11 Kyle Denitz, 6-0, Jr., Carinteria, Calif.
18 Daniel Rasay, 6-2, Fr., Kailua-Kona
4 Kimo Tuyay, 6-2, So., San Diego, Calif.

Outlook: By the end of last season, Tuyay had emerged as a leader, confidently distributing sets and assisting on blocks. While he is admittedly uncomfortable with a leadership label, Tuyay said he has become more focused in the offense. He also has developed what Wilton describes as "lean muscle."

Rasay, who played well in an exhibition match against Stanford in November, has passed Denitz on the depth chart. "He's getting better and better," Wilton said. "He's very athletic and he has a presence at the net."

OUTSIDE HITTER

Tony Ching adds energy and spark to the Warriors lineup.		Eyal Zimet is one of three of the Warriors designated hitters.

13 Matt Bender, 6-3, Fr., Tucson, Ariz.
15 Tony Ching, 6-2, Jr., Honolulu
10 Jose Delgado, 6-3, Fr., San Juan, Puerto Rico
8 Jeffrey Gleason, 6-3, Jr., Klamath Falls, Ore.
9 Costas Theocharidis, 6-3, Jr., Orestiada, Greece
14 Ryan Woodward, 6-3, Jr., Honolulu
6 Eyal Zimet, 6-2, Jr, Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz, Israel

Outlook: Unlike most teams, the Warriors use three outside hitters (instead of one player designated as an opposite hitter). Still, they have defined roles. Ching, who split time with departed Torry Tukuafu, is the sparkplug. Zimet is the offense's second passer. Theocharidis is the go-to hitter.

Last season, Theocharidis even launched shots from the back row. While Wilton would like to distribute the offense more, such a plan, he said, "is always equated to having more than one guy who can put shots away."

Theocharidis, who booms 65 mph shots off 38-inch jumps, is the best at finding openings. Ching also can deliver lasers, and the middle hitters might receive more sets.

"I'll take as many swings as the team needs me to take," said Theocharidis, who averaged 5.42 kills per game and was named the country's top player last season.

Ching, who underwent surgery to repair ligament damage in his right shoulder, said he received the starting berth because of "my energy and my spark."

He said it will not be hard to maintain such energy in his new full-time role. "The more intensity I have, the better I play," he said.

At (barely) 6-2, Ching relies on a 38-inch vertical leap to hit over blocks. He also said playing beach volleyball, competing with the junior national team last summer, and watching Zimet and Theocharidis have improved his shot selection.

Zimet said he has recovered from the stress fracture in his left shin. He said he spent the summer improving his passing.

Delgado is the backup at the three outside positions.