Men's volleyball seniors sacrifice for love of game
| • | Bender chosen Player of Week |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
| Comprising the Class of 2004 are, from left, Jake Muise, Ryan Woodward, Arri Jeschke, Joshua Stanhiser and Kimo Tuyay.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Match facts WHAT: Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches; Hawai'i's final home regular season matches. WHO: No 10 UC Irvine Anteaters vs. No. 6 Hawai'i Warriors WHEN: Tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center Senior night: After Saturday's match, the Warriors will honor their five seniors: Joshua Stanhiser, Arri Jeschke, Jake Muise, Ryan Woodward, and Kimo Tuyay. Television: Live on K5 Radio: Live on KKEA (1420-AM) |
To setter Kimo Tuyay, the leader of the Warriors' 2002 championship who entered this season as a reserve. To middle blocker Joshua Stanhiser, a converted basketball player. To role players Jake Muise, Ryan Woodward and Arri Jeschke.
"They're five special guys," UH coach Mike Wilton said.
They persevered on the court (Tuyay, Stanhiser and outside hitter Woodward will start tomorrow night) and in the classroom (Tuyay, Stanhiser, Woodward and Muise are on the honor roll).
NCAA rules limit men's volleyball teams to offering the financial equivalent of 4.5 scholarships each academic year. The players work, receive financial aid or will be paying off loans for the next decade.
For Stanhiser and Muise, their rides are skateboards.
While football players on scholarship are provided full-menu breakfasts, volleyball players clip coupons or shop at Costco.
"The hardest part is to walk past the football players eating breakfast," Muise said. "You're thinking, 'Just give me a piece of potato.' Instead, you go home to your bowl of cereal. ... But you know what? This whole experience has been worth it. We're here for the love of volleyball."
Here's a look at the five seniors:
Arri Jeschke
Position: Outside hitter.
Graduation date: May 2005 (business management).
Athletic financial aid: Nothing.
Fun fact: Jeschke's great, great grandfather was the king of Cherrapunji, which is near Shillong, India.
His story: Raised in Santa Barbara, Calif., Jeschke attended the local community college for two years before transferring to UH in August 2002. But at an optimistically listed 6 feet and playing behind team captain Eyal Zimet, Jeschke had few opportunities as a junior. This season, he opened as a serving specialist, then broke into the lineup following the suspension of three starters.
Jeschke does not receive financial aid, noting, "My parents are working their butt off for me." He gets to pay them back when he earns his degree next year. Jeschke plans to handle the accounting for his parents' restaurant.
"It's not always easy (financially)," he said, "but I'm glad I'm here. I love it here."
Jake Muise
Position: Libero.
Graduation date: Fall 2005 (marketing, business management).
Athletic financial aid: Tuition waiver for one semester.
Fun fact: The 6-foot Muise can dunk a basketball.
His story: Muise doesn't have time to worry about playing time or finances. His daily schedule is this: Weightlifting in the morning, four hours of classes, three hours of volleyball practice and meetings, one hour of weightlifting and working the dormitory front desk from 9 to midnight. His sleep is interrupted by opening the front door for students who lose their dorm keys.
"It's a long day," Muise said.
Muise, who was raised in Nova Scotia, was recruited in 2000 to play libero. He won the job in fall training camp, but lost it in January 2001 when Vernon Podlewski transferred to UH. He started last season, but lost his job again with the arrival of Alfred Reft. Now Muise, who is a co-captain, is a backup at libero and outside hitter.
"I think I figured out that five-sixths of my games as a Warrior were on the bench," he said. "It's been an experience, but I've persevered. It's all worth it to play for the University of Hawai'i."
Josh Stanhiser
Position: Middle blocker.
Graduation date: May 16 (zoology).
Athletic financial aid: Room and board.
Fun fact: Stanhiser is a vegetarian.
His story: Three years ago, Stanhiser was a task-force worker, the equivalent of a student teacher, at Hawaiian Mission Academy when he was "discovered" playing basketball by UH associate head basketball coach Bob Nash. Stanhiser joined the UH basketball team as a walk-on, redshirting during the 2001-2002 season. The volleyball coaches invited Stanhiser to work out. After extensive wooing, Stanhiser joined the volleyball team.
He was a part-time starter last season. This season, he has emerged as the Warriors' most dependable blocker. He is second nationally in hitting percentage.
Stanhiser said he would have liked to have played volleyball and basketball "but it didn't work out. It's unfortunate, so, oh, well."
Kimo Tuyay
Position: Setter.
Graduation date: May 16 (marketing).
Athletic financial aid: Tuition, room and board.
Fun fact: Tuyay is a celebrity-news junkie. "People, Us magazine, I'm there," he said.
His story: In 2000-2001, Tuyay was part of UH's wondrous group of freshmen that included quarterback Tim Chang, basketball guard Carl English and volleyball player Kim Willoughby.
English and Willoughby are professional players, Chang is poised to break the NCAA's career record for most passing yards and Tuyay, well . . .
"I've had an interesting career," Tuyay said.
He started for three seasons, leading UH to the 2002 national title, but then suffered a severely sprained left ankle in fall training camp last November. Tuyay, a co-captain, lost his starting job, only to regain it three weeks ago.
"He was the man who won this team a national championship," Muise said. "You go from that to being on the bench, that's a shot to your pride. But he worked his butt off every day in practice and he was rewarded."
Of his career, Tuyay said, "I'm very satisfied."
Ryan Woodward
Position: Outside hitter.
Graduation date: May 16 (political science).
Athletic financial aid: Nothing.
Fun fact: He is an accomplished trumpet player.
His story: Woodward took the long journey to "Senior Night." The University High graduate attended Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Mo., before transferring to UH in 2002.
Woodward, who lives with his parents in Mililani, works at Alan Wong's Restaurant on nights when the Warriors are not playing. He broke into the lineup after three starters were suspended last month. His accurate passes and on-court enthusiasm have helped him retain his starting job.
"Right now is the best time of my life," he said. "It's the sweetest ending after going to Missouri, coming back home and starting at the bottom of the depth chart."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
• • •
University of Hawai'i opposite hitter Matt Bender yesterday was named the Molten Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's volleyball Player of the Week.
"Oh, my gosh, I'm really flattered," said Bender, a third-year sophomore from Arizona who hammered 52 kills in two matches against Long Beach State. "I'd say 50 percent of that is passing and 50 percent is (setter) Kimo (Tuyay). They deserve all of the credit. I don't have to do anything when they're passing it and Kimo's setting it."
— Advertiser Staff
