Posted on: Friday, February 13, 2004
No. 2 Hawai'i opens crucial road trip at Stanford today
| • | MPSF standings |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team arrived in Stanford, Calif., on a Wednesday night brisk enough to turn cheeks Cardinal-colored.
Yesterday, the second-ranked Warriors woke up to the cool news that No. 1 UCLA lost in three games to Long Beach State on Wednesday night. By sweeping Stanford tonight and tomorrow night, the Warriors can vault atop the next USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association top-15 poll.
"This shows that in our league, anybody can beat anybody," UH middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre said. "We have to come out to play every match."
The Warriors' first leg of the four-matches-in-five-nights tour is against the only other team to defeat UCLA this season.
"That seems like ancient history now," Cardinal coach Don Shaw said, referring to a three-game losing streak. "We've been struggling. At this point in time, you're only as good as your last match. We're having a hard time putting together a consistent effort."
Stanford does not have a problem meeting the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's active-roster limit of 12 players. Stanford has 12 players on its entire roster — UH has 20 — and all are underclassmen. Shaw said he has two available middle blockers because freshman Eric Jones is likely to redshirt.
"We don't have many options," Shaw said, "because we don't have any depth."
But UH coach Mike Wilton said: "You only play six at a time, and they did beat UCLA."
Wilton said Cardinal junior Kevin Hansen is one of the MPSF's best setters. The 6-foot-5 Hansen is a skilled blocker, an offensive threat on power dumps and an athletic setter who can salvage poorly aimed passes.
"He's a very competitive guy," Wilton said. "He'll make them compete."
Hansen also is Stanford's best server, using the same jump motion to launch floaters or sizzlers. "You have to watch him closely," Wilton said.
But UH's primary passers, libero Alfred Reft and outside hitter José José Delgado, are prepared for tough serves after facing teammates Delano Thomas, Pedro Azenha, Arri Jeschke and LaBarre in practices.
"We've got the best servers in the nation coming after you day after day," Reft said. "It has to help you."
Last week, Ball State targeted Delgado, who successfully passed 84 serves without an error in the two matches.
"The other team's serves seem slower," Delgado said. "We pass better in games than in practices."
Wilton said: "You have to target somebody. Alfred is a really good passer, so (Ball State) went after Jose. But Jose is a really good athlete and volleyball player. There's no reason he shouldn't be a good passer."
The UH-Stanford matches have been moved from 1,000-seat Burnham Pavilion to 7,500-seat Maples Pavilion. Maples is known for its bouncy wooden floor, which should enhance UH's block.
"It should be fun to play there," LaBarre said.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
