Warriors fall short in volleyball exhibition
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Last night's volleyball exhibition started with the playing of "Oh, Canada" and ended with the University of Hawai'i players saying, "oh, well."
"It was a good experience for us," UH coach Mike Wilton said of Alberta's 28-30, 30-24, 30-21, 34-36, 15-12 victory in the Stan Sheriff Center.
The rematch begins at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Outside hitter Nicholas Cundy hammered 30 kills and had his handprints on five of the Golden Bears' 18 blocks.
Opposite hitter Dallas Soonias contributed 11 kills, including two to open the first-to-15 fifth game.
"Alberta is a good team," UH middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre said. "They gave us some things to work on. We looked flat at times. It was like a five-game, roller coaster. But we'll be OK."
The match had a surreal opening. "Hawai'i Pono'i" was not played. A mascot dressed as a macadamia nut served as a cheerleader. And 22 Alberta fans, often out-shouting the other 1,972 in attendance, sat in UH's "Manoa Maniacs" section.
The Warriors also were without middle blocker Delano Thomas, who is working to complete class assignments, and opposite hitter Matt Bender, who was diagnosed with tendinitis and bursitis in his left shoulder. Bender, who was originally feared to have suffered damage to his rotator cuff, is not expected to play tomorrow, although he might be available for next week's Outrigger Invitational.
Then early in Game 3, one of the Warriors' best passers — outside hitter Lauri Hakala — suffered a sprained left ankle. His availability is in question for the rematch.
"You always want to have all of your guys," Wilton said. "But we have no excuses."
Indeed, the Warriors' problems were not traced to the absentees. Outside hitter Jose Jose Delgado, who is being counted on for leadership and offense this season, had more errors (12) than kills (10). With UH down 14-11 in Game 2, Delgado was pulled after committing his fifth attack error. He returned for Game 3, and remained in the lineup the rest of the way.
Wilton also pulled libero Eric Kalima in the third game, replacing him with last season's starter, Alfred Reft.
Alberta also had advantage in experience (it had played 10 Canada West matches) and height (average hitter was 6 feet 6; UH's was 6-4).
In some rotations, the Golden Bears' front row was 6-7, 6-9 and 6-8. In two rotations, 6-foot-6 setter Brian Beckwith was the Warriors' tallest front-row player.
"They're a big team, and they block really well," LaBarre said. "We knew they would put up a big block all over the place. We needed to hit smart."
The Warriors gave away 31 points on attack errors.
"Every time you have that kind of a block, you have to hit high and flat," Delgado said. "We had trouble in the beginning. At the end of the match, we kind of came back."
The Warriors' offense, for the most part, was produced by opposite hitter Pedro Azenha, who started in place of Bender.
Azenha, a third-year senior, was suspended for the final month of fall training camp after violating an undisclosed team rule. He was reinstated last week and joined the Warriors for Monday's start of training camp.
But Azenha, who is 6 feet 6, pounded 31 kills. He also had five digs and five blocks.
"Pedro is the kind of player when he's hot, you want to keep giving him the ball," Beckwith said. "When he would get off on those streaks, I made sure to give him the ball."
Azenha said he kept in shape playing beach volleyball, lifting weights and running. "I think the two months I wasn't practicing (because of the suspension and holiday break) got in the way a little bit," he said. "But I have no excuses. I have to get back into it.
"As a team, we were a little rusty. We only had two practices together. We had some ups and downs emotionally. I'm pretty sure we'll get get the consistency with time."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
