Stanhiser will play during Sabbath

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After tonight, there should be no doubt about middle blocker Josh Stanhiser's commitment to the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team.

"You know, I didn't want to have to play, but it's not that huge of a deal," said Stanhiser, a junior who was a member of the UH basketball team last season.

UH coach Mike Wilton offered to excuse Stanhiser from the match. Wilton, a high priest in the Mormon church, tries not to work on Sunday, his day of worship.

"If somebody's Sabbath comes on a different day, we certainly understand," Wilton said.

But after some thought, Stanhiser declined the offer. "It would be nice if I could arbitrarily say, 'I'm not going to (play).' But dealing with the team situation, you have the team counting on you. Then, you know, it's different."

Besides, Stanhiser said, his faith is not measured demonstratively.

"It doesn't really matter, per se, if you even go to church on Sabbath or whatever. That's not the important thing. That's the outward. That's how you show everybody else what you're doing. I'm comfortable the way I am. The relationship with God is what matters, not anything anybody else is saying."

For now, Stanhiser is more concerned about adjusting to the speed and different hitting schemes of NCAA volleyball, and trying to gain weight. The 6-foot-10 Stanhiser weighs about 200 pounds.

"Until I'm about 240, I'm not going to be happy," he said. "To get that big, I need to get 5,000 calories a day. It's hard to get that many. It's hard to eat that much. I probably get anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 (calories a day). I'll eat whatever I can get my hands on."

Stanhiser, of Loma Linda, Calif., was raised as a vegetarian, although he has sampled the menu at McDonald's.

"I've tried beef and chicken, but the taste isn't what I'm used to," he said. "I don't think it tastes good, per se, and it's not as healthy. If there's nothing else, I'll eat it. But it's not like I enjoy it."

Instead, he will fill his plate with pasta and bread. "To get my protein, I normally have to go to supplements — protein shakes or soy products," he said. "That's normally where I get my protein."

He also is getting a full diet of experience during hitting and blocking drills in practice. Delano Thomas, UH's other starting middle blocker, offers tips.

"He helps me out," Stanhiser said. "When somebody keeps getting by me the same way, he points it out."

As for his play in Wednesday's opener against Lewis, he said: "I think I played all right. I still got juked on a couple of sets. Watching the tape, I'm still coming in late on a few. I'm trying to read better."

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