Nordberg ponders what ifs
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Even though he has a championship ring and a Saran Wrap-wearing fan club, University of Hawai'i volleyball player Brian Nordberg still wonders what it would be like if he had not transferred from UC Santa Barbara two years ago.
Advertiser library photo • Feb. 24, 2003
"There are advantages and disadvantages to everything," said Nordberg, a starting middle blocker. "When I transferred, I hoped the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages. In terms of not hanging out with my old teammates, that was definitely a disadvantage. I miss the guys. I miss them a lot."
Brian Nordberg transferred from UC Santa Barbara.
Nordberg will experience a reunion when the Warriors host the Gauchos tonight and tomorrow night.
"I can't wait," he said. "It's going to be a lot of fun."
Nordberg said two former roommates, outside hitters Keith Busam and outside hitter Jan Carlo Zegarra, have played often this season.
• WHO: Santa Barbara (8-17) vs. UH (19-5) • WHAT: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match • WHEN: 7 p.m. today and tomorrow • WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center • ADMISSION: $12 lower level; $9 (adults, upper level); $8 ages 65-older; $6 ages 4-18, UH students • PARKING: $3
After two seasons in Santa Barbara, Nordberg decided he needed a change. But he said relocating to Hawai'i turned out to be a bigger adjustment than his move from his native Wisconsin to Santa Barbara.
UH volleyball
"It took me a while to get used to the Island life mentality and the cultural differences," he said. "It's a different scene. It's a different mentality for volleyball. It's different all around. At the same time, it was definitely the right decision. Do I have regrets? No. But there are things I miss, the No. 1 thing being my friends on the team."
Nordberg said he keeps in contact with his former teammates. In turn, Busam was surprised to learn from Internet reports that Nordberg wore a headband made of Saran Wrap during matches.
"He was a little shocked," Nordberg said. "In fact, he said the (Gaucho) starters might wear Saran Wrap on their heads. We'll see."
The series will be a rematch of last year's semifinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament. The Warriors won that match, an outcome that assured them the at-large berth in the NCAA final four.
The Gauchos, who lost three starters from last year's team, have won four of 18 MPSF matches this season.
"A lot of their main guys are gone," UH setter Kimo Tuyay said. "A lot of the fire they had is gone."
Meanwhile, the Warriors have won nine in a row to improve to 19-5 overall and 13-5 in the MPSF. If they win both matches against the Gauchos, they will host an opening-round match in the coming MPSF Tournament.
"These are key matches because they're conference matches," UH outside hitter Costas Theocharidis said. "We're doing well right now. We're on a roll. If we can keep playing the way we've been playing, we can do, like, miracles."
