Wilton optimistic about Warriors' chances

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Despite his volleyball team blowing a two-game lead in a five-game loss to second-ranked Long Beach State on Saturday, Hawai'i coach Mike Wilton insisted the Warriors are "as good as any team in the league."

After the split with the 49ers, the Warriors are in fourth place in the 12-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation entering their final two regular-season home matches.

Against the league's top three teams, UH is 0-2 against Brigham Young, 1-1 against Long Beach State and 1-1 against UCLA. But Wilton said "we've had donnybrooks with all three. I'm encouraged for a team with so many new players."

After four starters completed their eligibility last May, Wilton said, "there were a lot of people who thought this would be a rebuilding year for us. We're in the hunt. We're absolutely in the hunt."

With the playoffs approaching, Wilton said: "I think we're as good as any team in the league. We respect everybody but we don't fear them."

For Friday's match against UC Irvine, Wilton again plans to change the lineup. Dionisio Dante, a second-year freshman from Maui who made his first start Saturday, is projected to open at middle blocker. He would replace Mauli'a LaBarre, who is suffering from a sprained left ankle.

LaBarre is scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging tomorrow. The MRI, which uses magnetic fields to create a picture of the body's interior, will determine the severity of the injury.

LaBarre, who originally suffered the injury two weeks ago, lasted one game last Friday night. He did not suit up for the rematch the following night. "The MRI will shed some light on his condition," Wilton said.

"Right now," Wilton added, "Dio's the starter. If Mau gets a clean bill of health and can do some things in practice, then we'll have a contest."

Wilton said the only uncertainty is at left-side hitter. Pedro Azenha, who opened the season at opposite hitter, and Delano Thomas, who was an All-America middle blocker last season, are competing for the starting job. Both are 6 foot 7 and powerful servers and hitters. But Thomas has the highest hitting zone in NCAA volleyball — he can touch nearly 12 feet off a standing jump — and has played the majority of the time on the left side this season.

The other starters are setter Kimo Tuyay, middle blocker Joshua Stanhiser, outside hitter/passer Ryan Woodward, opposite hitter Matt Bender and libero Alfred Reft.

Wilton again said he made a mistake replacing Woodward at the start of Game 3 this past Saturday night. That left Reft as the only primary passer.

After UH won the first two games, Wilton said, "the bad thing to do was to take Woody out. He's a very disciplined blocker. He covers. He does all of the little things. He's the consummate team player who meshes with everyone. There are some players whose numbers aren't as good, but the team plays better when they're out there. Woody is one of those guys."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com at 525-8051.