Ailing Dante may get start again
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i volleyball player Dionisio Dante remains as the favorite to start at middle blocker despite suffering a broken pinkie on the right hand of his hitting arm.
"I can still make a shaka sign," said Dante, who suffered the injury during Saturday's five-game loss to Long Beach State.
DANTE
Dante, a second-year freshman from Maui, competed during yesterday's two-hour practice. The pinkie and ring finger on his right hand were covered together with padding, then wrapped with a green adhesive tape.
When he blocks or hits, Dante said, "it's pretty sore, but it's not as bad as you think it would be, actually."
Dante said there is a fracture in a bone at the top of the pinkie. The skin near the injury is "black and blue," he said. "I guess there was a little bone I fractured in half. ... but I can still play."
This past Saturday, Dante made his first collegiate start, in place of middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre, who had a sprained left ankle. In the last two weeks, LaBarre missed two matches and three practices because of the injury.
LaBarre said an air-cushioned cast was too bulky and extra padding did not ease the pain. On Monday, the team's physician prescribed anti-inflammatory medication.
"It must be working," said LaBarre, who practiced with the second team yesterday. At the end of practice, LaBarre yelled, "It's good to be back!"
But LaBarre's comeback is not complete. Joshua Stanhiser is set at one middle blocker position and Dante is listed at No. 1 at the other spot.
During yesterday's scrimmages, Stanhiser hammered 17 kills and hit .387. Dante had 12 kills and hit .500, and LaBarre had five kills and hit .444.
"Mau did good things in practice," Wilton said, "but Dio didn't go anywhere. Dio is playing well."
As for Dante's broken finger, Wilton mused, "it seems he's setting better."
"I'm glad he has confidence in me," Dante said of Wilton. "I know I can keep it up."
LaBarre said during his absence, "the guys stepped it up and played well. I want to try and get my starting position back."
• No poll change: Despite splitting a two-match series against No. 2 Long Beach State, the Warriors remained at No. 6 in this week's USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association top-15 poll.
The Warriors (15-9) received 168 points.
Brigham Young (21-3) is No. 1, earning all 16 first-place votes from the panel of coaches. Long Beach State is second, followed by UCLA, Pepperdine and Cal State Northridge.
The Warriors play No. 10 UC Irvine on Friday and Saturday in their final regular-season home matches of the season.
Hawai'i's five seniors — Stanhiser, outside hitters Ryan Woodward and Arri Jeschke, setter Kimo Tuyay and libero Jake Muise — will be honored at the end of Saturday's match.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
