UH's Thomas will play through pain

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Delano Thomas has a partially torn ligament in his thumb. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It won't be a problem," said Thomas, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Sacramento, Calif.

Thomas has been fitted for a splint. He practiced yesterday afternoon.

Michelle Landis, the team's athletic trainer, said the splint is made of Aquaplast, a material that softens when submerged in water. The Aquaplast, which is fitted to Thomas' hand, soon returns to solid form. Yesterday, Landis heavily taped Thomas' right thumb to the splint.

Landis said Thomas still will feel a jolt of pain when shots hit his right thumb directly. But "it's nothing like the pain he had before," she said, referring to the fall of 2001, when Thomas suffered a dislocated right thumb.

Thomas suffered the latest injury in the first game of last Friday's match against Stanford. The Warriors lost in five games, and are expected to cede their top national ranking to UC Irvine when the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association poll is announced today.

The Warriors already are short-handed because of outside hitter Eyal Zimet's back injury. Zimet missed last Friday's match because of lower-back pain compounded by spasms.

He underwent medical tests yesterday, and did not compete in hitting drills yesterday afternoon. UH coach Mike Wilton said he expects Zimet to be included on the Warriors' 12-player travel roster.

UH plays at UC Irvine Friday and Saturday. The Warriors will remain on the Mainland before playing matches at Long Beach State Feb. 5 and 7.

Wilton said outside hitter Tony Ching and libero Arri Jeschke have recovered fully from suspected food poisoning. Both were ailing last Friday night.