UH hopes to avoid letdown in third game

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Why, as singer Avril Lavigne might ask, does the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team have to go and make things so complicated?

• Why does UH struggle in Game 3?

In 16 matches this season, the Warriors have won 37 of 59 games. But while they have a combined record of 23-9 in Games 1 and 2, their third-game record is 7-9.

UH coach Mike Wilton theorized that a quality schedule makes it difficult for the Warriors to dominate a match. Of the nine times the Warriors have won the first two games, they are 4-5 in Game 3.

"For anybody wondering, there are no lollipops on our schedule," he said.

Another factor is the extended intermission between Games 2 and 3 in matches played in the Stan Sheriff Center. For most road matches, that intermission is three minutes, the same time span as the break between the other games. But UH's marketing department requested a 10-minute break between Games 2 and 3 for home matches; the usual three-minute intermission applies for the other breaks.

"It's kind of a momentum buster," outside hitter Tony Ching said of the extended intermission.

"The first year," senior outside hitter Costas Theocharidis said of the 10-minute break "really bothered me. You have so much energy in the game and you have to take 10 minutes off. That kind of throws you off. It takes you out of your rhythm. There are times we're up 2-0 and the opponent will come back and just beat us. It really bothers me."

In six Mountain Pacific Sports Federation home matches this season, the Warriors are 1-5 in Game 3.

• Why does UH split so many two-match series?

When it comes to the 12-member MPSF, the parity's over. The 10 California teams play home-and-home series against one another. UH and Brigham Young play two-match series against the other MPSF teams, alternating home sites every year. For instance, if UH hosts a two-match series against UCLA this year, next year the teams will meet in consecutive matches in Los Angeles.

Wilton acknowledge that it is a "difficult chore" to win consecutive matches against an MPSF opponent. If a team wins the match, it can correct mistakes in time for the rematch. UH has split five of the six two-match series this year.

Wilton said the consecutive-match format was developed several years ago as "a cost-cutting measure of some kind. Nobody (from California) wanted to travel to BYU or Hawai'i every year."

What's more, led by a bloc of Southern California schools, the MPSF voted not to implement a film-exchange program among member schools. Because all of UH's home matches are televised and available through satellite transmissions, opponents are able to scout the Warriors. In contrast, sometimes the UH coaches don't learn of an opponent's lineup change until the pre-game introductions.

Wilton said such disadvantages are "volleyball life for us. We have to deal with it. That's all we can do."

• Why does UH middle blocker Brian Nordberg use that unique serving style?

A teammate says Brian Nordberg is “the most positive abnormal person I’ve met.” Advertiser library photo

"It's a running jump-float serve," Wilton said.

After a running start, Nordberg will jump as he approaches the serving line and strike the ball as if he were rabbit-punching a speed bag. By design, the ball will float in front or to the side of passers, making the receiving team scramble to start its offense.

Nordberg's serving style, in a rotation of rippers, is likened to "a power pitcher who all of a sudden can throw a knuckleball," Wilton said. "Brian knows where he wants to serve it, and he makes his directional changes at contact. The ball can go to so many areas. I guess that's why baseball catchers wear big mitts when they catch knuckleball pitchers."

Nordberg said he tried to develop a jump serve soon after transferring from UC Santa Barbara in August 2001. But a chronic shoulder injury made it "difficult to spend the time I wanted to in the gym," he said. "I couldn't split time hitting balls in practice and working on the jump serve."

He settled on the jump-float serve, which gave him the momentum from a running start without adding stress to his right shoulder.

Nordberg is tied with setter Kimo Tuyay for the team lead in serving accuracy (.947), committing four errors in 76 attempts.

"It's all about team responsibility," he said. "I want to get a serve in (play). Hopefully, that takes off a lot of pressure on the other guys. I think if they know I'm consistent, they can go out there and bomb their serves. I kind of like playing that team role, even if it means sacrificing a little bit on my serve."

• Explain Nordberg?

"You definitely can't describe him as normal," team captain Eyal Zimet said of Nordberg, who wears a headband made of Saran Wrap. "He's the most positive abnormal person I've met."

Wilton said Nordberg, who often performs yoga-like stretching exercises before matches, is a "free spirit."

Theocharidis said the best explanation can be found at the multi-plex.

"Go watch the movie, 'Old School,' " Theocharidis said of the comedy starring Will Ferrell. "He's the main character. The way he acts and behaves, he's an 'Old School' guy. If you see the movie, he's not hard to explain."

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