Warriors lay down volleyball building blocks
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Imagine if Anthony Carter and Predrag Savovic played on the same University of Hawai'i basketball team. Or if Teee Williams and Kee Williams were Rainbow Wahine volleyball teammates.
By chance and circumstance, fifth-year senior Dejan Miladinovic, the best middle blocker in college volleyball, and freshman Delano Thomas, who has the potential to be even better, are on the same UH men's volleyball roster.
Mix in junior Brian Nordberg, the bridge between Miladinovic and Thomas in age and skill, and the Warriors have created a perfect storm at middle blocker.
Mike Wilton rated the trio as one of his best in his 10 years as UH's head coach, comparable to the middle block of Rick Tune, Sivan Leoni and Jason Ring in 1996 and 1997.
"These guys are certainly doing a great job," Wilton said.
It took a series of events to assemble this year's middle block. By undergoing shoulder surgery in 2000, Miladinovic was able to extend his collegiate career to this season. Thomas turned down full basketball scholarships to accept a partial volleyball scholarship from UH.
At Kennedy High in Sacramento, Thomas recalled, "I heard Dejan was the nation's best middle blocker. I wanted to come here and learn from him."
Nordberg, seeking a change of scenery, transferred from UC Santa Barbara last August.
"There were a lot of coincidences, but I'm glad it worked out," Miladinovic said.
Miladinovic, who earned his bachelor's degree in December, immediately decided to serve as Thomas' mentor. When Miladinovic was a freshman, he said he learned only by watching teammate Andre Breuer.
"I think it's good I'm around because Delano is still a freshman and he needs a little tutoring," Miladinovic said. "It's a big jump from high school to college. He's playing against some of the best teams in the country in the toughest conference. He needs inside scoops. I help him with positioning and reading blockers and just getting a feel for the middle."
Said Thomas: "I've learned so much from him. He's such a greater blocker. He's always critiquing me. He's a great person to learn from."
Miladinovic's guidance is useful in a sport that offers the financial equivalent of 4.5 scholarships. Unlike other volleyball skills, a middle player's basic purpose — blocking — can only be honed in six-on-six drills. As Wilton noted, there are no pitching machines in volleyball.
"The only way to practice is right here in an arena," Miladinovic said. "I can do movements by myself along the net, practicing going to my right and left, but to work on blocking, I need to see a ball and practice against a setter and hitter."
Although each is 6 feet 7, Thomas has many of the skills absent in Miladinovic's game. Thomas is more agile and has a greater reach from a standing jump (11 feet 8 to Miladinovic's 11-4). Miladinovic's strength is his ability to read setters and hitters.
"His cognition is real good," Wilton said.
Wilton said middle blockers are often under-appreciated.
"There isn't a lot of immediate feedback," he said. "You don't really stuff that many people as opposed to how many balls you try to block. You have to understand your role is to take away parts of the court and take away what a hitter wants to do. Our middles do that."
Said setter Kimo Tuyay: "Our middles make a difference. One block can change the momentum, and volleyball is based on momentum. Whoever has the momentum is going to win the game. If you block their best player, the guys on the other team will become a little more tentative."
Eyal Zimet said practicing against UH's middle blockers is helpful in the preparation for matches against UC Irvine tomorrow and Saturday.
"Our blockers are at the highest level of volleyball in the NCAA," Zimet said. "Practicing against them makes us better."
