'Flat' Warriors sweep Pacific, move into first

• UH's LaBarre is national player of week

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team gained sole possession of first place the hard way, struggling in a 31-29, 30-27, 30-26 victory over Pacific last night in Stockton, Calif.

In improving to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, the Warriors vaulted ahead of idle Brigham Young (7-3, 5-1).

They also are in position to supplant UCLA, which lost in three games to Long Beach State last week, at No. 1 when the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association top-15 poll is announced today. The Warriors were No. 2 last week.

When asked if he expected his team to earn the top ranking, UH coach Mike Wilton said, "I suppose so."

But Wilton was admittedly disappointed in what he described as the Warriors' "flat" performance against Pacific, the league's last-place team.

The Warriors committed 24 attack errors and hit .269, their second-worst accuracy of the season. Their usually dependable passing was erratic, even against float serves, making it difficult for freshman setter Brian Beckwith to distribute the offense smoothly.

On defense, the Warriors had a season-low six blocks.

"We were just out of it," Wilton said. "Passing and blocking are two things that require a lot of focus. We were really on the blink in those two skills."

Even outside hitter Delano Thomas, who carried UH offensively in recent weeks, was not at his best, despite putting down 16 kills. He made eight attack errors and hit .229.

"He had some kills, but he looked out of it," Wilton said. "Some of our guys flat-out struggled. We're human beings."

Wilton said opposite hitter Pedro Azenha played well. Azenha pounded a match-high 17 kills and five aces.

The Warriors were playing their third road match in four nights. They did not practice Sunday. Yesterday, Stockton was chilly and overcast.

On the three-van caravan to the Spanos Center, Wilton recalled, "most of the guys said they had no energy. It showed. We brought almost nothing to the floor. We were really flat."

But Wilton said blame should not rest on weather or fatigue. "Whatever it is, it's an excuse," he said. "It's something you can control by how you think. Hopefully, we can change that."

The Tigers played without their best outside hitter, Nils Daubers, who averages 3.83 kills per game and leads the nation with 28 aces. A spokesman said he was suspended for the match for "not adhering to team expectations."

Brian Zodrow, an opposite hitter from Saint Louis School, replaced Daubers at left-side hitter, hammering a team-high 12 kills. Wilton said he expects Daubers to play in tonight's rematch.

Wilton said UH's play last night was "an uncharacteristic deal."

He added: "Winning is one thing and losing is another. ... I'm grateful we were able to win. But it was pretty apparent that wasn't our best effort. The guys know it, too. We need to make changes in our level of effort.

"Hopefully, it's a good wake-up call for us. We want to come home (tomorrow) feeling we gave a great effort in our last match."

UH's LaBarre is national player of week

University of Hawai'i middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre yesterday was named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week.

"That's pretty cool," said LaBarre, who set a school record when he buried 11 kills in 11 swings against Stanford last week. "I am surprised. I'm doing what I'm doing and having fun playing volleyball."

National awards usually go to outside hitters, who take the most swings during a match.

"Middle blockers don't get a lot of recognition," said LaBarre, a sophomore from Roosevelt High. "It's really a good honor, and I'm happy to receive it."

In last week's two matches against Stanford, LaBarre hit .895, with 18 kills (against one error) in 19 swings.

The 6-foot-8 LaBarre has made a quick adjustment after missing the previous two seasons because of a church mission to Russia. He earned a starting job in fall training, prompting Delano Thomas' move to the outside.