Two hitters commit to Warriors volleyball
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team has secured verbal commitments from two outside hitters.
Jimbo Clar, who played on the U.S. Junior national team last summer, and Rusty Burns, a member of one of Southern California's best volleyball clubs, will join the Warriors in the fall.
Clar, who is 6 feet 2, is from Rochester, N.Y. He and UH setter Brian Beckwith were teammates on the Junior team.
Burns, who is 6-4, plays for the Seaside Volleyball Club in San Diego. Burns also works out with the Grossmont College players.
"He jumps really well," said Fred Featherstone, head coach of Seaside and Grossmont. "He's got long arms, and he hits the ball really high and hard."
Featherstone said Burns is an offensive threat from the front row, back row and service line.
"He's also a good blocker," Featherstone said. "Plus, he can handle the ball. Some schools were looking at him as a setting prospect."
Burns is best suited to play opposite hitter because, as a lefthander, he faces the sets when he hits from the right side. Featherstone said Burns' top-spinning shots are difficult to dig.
"He moves it around pretty well," Featherstone.
Burns also was recruited by Pepperdine, UC Irvine and Southern California.
"I took a visit out there to the island, and I loved it," Burns said. "I really like the coaches. They're nice guys."
Trent Suzuki, a personal trainer, has helped Burns gain seven inches on his vertical jump.
• Still tinkering: UH coach Mike Wilton said he still has not finalized a starting lineup for tomorrow's road match against Pepperdine.
As of now, Wilton is reconsidering plans to start Jake Muise at libero, where Alfred Reft has started every match.
The other starters are middle blockers Mauli'a LaBarre and Joshua Stanhiser, setter Kimo Tuyay, opposite hitter Matt Bender and outside hitter Pedro Azenha. The last spot is between Delano Thomas and Jose Jose Delgado. If Delgado starts, Azenha will become the left-side hitter. If Thomas starts, Azenha because a primary passer.
"It doesn't matter to me," said Azenha, who has played the three outside positions this season. "I'm getting better and better at passing. I'm really confident."
In Wilton's 12 seasons as UH head coach, the Warriors have never defeated Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif.
"This will be a challenge," Wilton said. "But we like challenges. Challenges are good."
• Holding steady: The Warriors remained at No. 6 in this week's USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association top-15 poll.
The Warriors (16-10) received 158 points.
Brigham Young is first with 236 points and 13 No. 1 votes. Long Beach State is second with 225 points and the remaining three first-place votes, followed by UCLA, Pepperdine and Cal State Northridge.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
