Ching back; Thomas' grades not up to par

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

One University of Hawai'i volleyball player has rejoined the team, but another will not make the coming road trip.

Outside hitter Tony Ching, who was suspended for the last road trip following an argument with the coaches, has been activated, UH coach Mike Wilton said yesterday.

"Tony's back," Wilton said following his meeting with Ching.

But Wilton said Ching "is very sick," with what is believed to be walking pneumonia, and is considered to be questionable for next week's road trip to UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge.

Ching, who has not attended classes this week, said he is taking antibiotics. He has a doctor's appointment tomorrow and, if he is medically cleared, will travel with the team tomorrow. If not, he will leave next week and rejoin the team for the Northridge series.

"If he gets well, we'll figure out a way to get him up there," Wilton said.

The Warriors already will be short-handed because middle blocker Delano Thomas is not included on the travel roster. It was decided that Thomas, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Sacramento, could not afford to miss a week of classes.

Thomas leads the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with a .530 hitting percentage. He has committed seven hitting errors in 22 matches.

"It's a loss, no question about it," Wilton said. "We felt, as a staff, it would serve him best to stay at home and take care of business. If we were only concerned about winning, we would take him. We want to win as much as the next person, but academics is the main reason they should be here. Getting to play, in my view, is a privilege. There are certain things that have to be accomplished, including doing our best as people and students."

Wilton said Geronimo "Jo Jo" Chala, who has been slowed by knee and ankle injuries this season, will back up middle blockers Dejan Miladinovic and Brian Nordberg.

"This gives us an opportunity to step up," Wilton said. "That's what great teams do."