Hawai'i's challenge comes in Waves

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team must do something it has never done before under head coach Mike Wilton: defeat Pepperdine on its campus in Malibu, Calif.

"We have to win these two matches," UH setter Kimo Tuyay said of the meetings tonight and tomorrow night. "They're crucial."

The Warriors enter their final two matches of the regular season in sixth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The top four finishers host opening-round matches in the eight-team MPSF playoffs. Pepperdine is in fourth place with a 13-7 MPSF record, followed by Cal State Northridge (13-8) and UH (12-8).

For the Warriors to finish fourth, they must defeat the Waves twice and Northridge must lose its regular-season finale.

"That's more motivation for us," UH outside hitter Pedro Azenha said.

Although a crowd of no more than 1,000 is expected, Pepperdine's Firestone Fieldhouse is a difficult adjustment. The ceilings are low, the stands are close to the bench and there is little elbow room behind the end lines. UH middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre prefers a long runway to launch his jog-jump-float serves.

"That's why I love serving at home," he said. "You get that deep run."

For the fifth time in three weeks, Wilton has juggled the lineup. Azenha, who has played opposite hitter and left-side hitter, replaces Ryan Woodward as the outside hitter/primary passer. Delano Thomas, an All-America middle blocker last season, starts at left-side hitter. The other starters are Tuyay, middle blockers LaBarre and Joshua Stanhiser, opposite hitter Matt Bender and libero Alfred Reft.

If the Warriors have difficulty passing or digging, the merry-go-round begins again.

"We'll stay with (the lineup) as long as the ball control holds up," Wilton said.

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