Church mission helped LaBarre

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In a method as mystifying as losing weight by eating chocolate, University of Hawai'i middle blocker Maulia LaBarre became a better volleyball player by not playing volleyball.

"I can't really explain it," said LaBarre, who left Hawai'i as a struggling backup and returned from a 14-month church mission in Russia as the Warriors' best middle blocker.

"I talked to some of the booster members and they told me, 'You should go on a mission again,' " he recalled, laughing. "I said, 'I would, if I knew I would play better.' "

As the Warriors opened training camp yesterday — they play the alumni Friday night in the Stan Sheriff Center and start the regular season Jan. 8 — LaBarre has emerged as a key player. His development helped ease Delano Thomas' move from the middle to outside hitter.

LaBarre's ascent is remarkable for a player who drew cheers as a UH freshman just for clearing the net with his serves. Back then, the 6-foot-8 LaBarre, a 2000 Roosevelt High graduate, could barely bench press his weight (170 pounds).

After his freshman season in 2001, he left the team to prepare for his church mission to Samara, an overnight train ride east of Moscow.

Balancing ministry work and community service left LaBarre little free time.

"I played volleyball for fun, with a bunch of guys I was living with, but maybe only four times while I was there," he said. "We used a real volleyball, but it was a really junk gym. I never had any training at all."

Instead, he taught an English class, worked in a care home for the elderly, and helped clear snow and ice from the streets and sidewalks.

"In the beginning, it was really nice," he said. "We saw the seasons change, and it was nice to have a white Christmas. After eight or nine months of snow, I was tired of it. I needed the sun, the beach, maybe some rain instead of snow."

Sometimes, he remembered, the water would be turned off for a couple of days.

"It could be tough, but I really enjoyed the people," he said. "They really opened up after they found out we were trying to speak their language and live the way they lived. That really opened up the lines of communication."

Although LaBarre said he missed Hawai'i's menus, most of all, "I hungered for volleyball, because I hadn't played in a while. I missed the game. I ached for it. I couldn't wait to get back and play."

During fall camp, LaBarre said: "I had fun in practice. And I had fun when we played in the games."

LaBarre has gained 20 pounds, and now weighs 190. He also has become a leader. Yesterday, he volunteered to help the freshmen set up the nets for practice.

"He's matured a lot," UH coach Mike Wilton said.

Roll call: Middle blocker Joshua Stanhiser, whose flight from Los Angeles was delayed yesterday, was the only player who reported late to the opening of training camp. Thomas arrived from Sacramento, and opposite hitter Pedro Azenha was excused from practice to pick up his mother from Honolulu International Airport. She was traveling from Brazil.

Wilton allowed two redshirts to report in January.

Despite the semester break, UH opened a dormitory and on-campus apartments for the players. They also are receiving meal money because the campus restaurants are closed during the break.

First-day excitement: Wilton said he eagerly counted down the start of training camp.

"I was like, 'Come on, Christmas, hurry up,' " he said. "I've been waiting for this. The last two hours (leading to practice) didn't go by fast enough."

Alfred Reft, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, also was ready to start practicing. Reft is projected to start at libero.

Reft said he decided to leave the Gauchos because "I didn't see things going that well for me. I needed to make a change, and luckily, Hawai'i snatched me."

Reft entered a situation with few guarantees. Jake Muise, a senior, was the starting libero last season.

"It's always a gamble, whether I choose to stay or leave," Reft said. "I thought an opportunity to join a great program like this comes around once in a lifetime. I didn't want to pass it up."

Delgado's back: Outside hitter Jose Delgado said he has recovered from a back injury that kept him from participating in four exhibition matches last month. "I feel pretty good," he said.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honolululuadvertiser.com or 525-8051.