A 5 p.m scrimmage between two UH alumni teams will precede the Warriors' match.

UH coach Mike Wilton said the Warriors are prepared to avenge last year's loss.

"I believe our guys are going to take them seriously this year," Wilton said. "Last year, it looked like we had at least a couple of guys still trying to hit their snooze alarm."

After four days of training camp, the Warriors have emerged with a new lineup and a quicker offense. Of the two returning starters from last season, setter Kimo Tuyay is recovering from a severe ankle injury and All-American Delano Thomas has moved from middle blocker to left-side hitter.

The Warriors also used training camp to resolve these questions:

• Can Thomas adjust to his new position?

The 6-foot-7 Thomas has made an easy transition on offense, rocketing shots over double blocks. But Wilton cautioned: "We're not out of the woods yet. He's still learning the position. It's things like remembering to get off the net, and the mentality part, like yelling for the ball. We want him to be the guy who wants to get set every time."

Thomas said: "It's coming along slowly, but I'll be all right before the season starts (next Thursday)."

• Can opposite hitter Pedro Azenha replace four-time All-American Costas Theocharidis?

Azenha appears ready to grow into the role; he was measured at 6 feet 6› — 1› inches taller than his listed height last year.

"I don't think I'm stepping into Costas' role," Azenha said, noting Theocharidis was the go-to hitter in every rotation turn. "I think the team has a different offense. It's more balanced. I'm just one guy on the team, you know. I know I have to always be ready to hit. It's not a problem for me."

Wilton said he wants to spread the offense among Thomas, Azenha and outside hitter Jose Delgado. "When the chips are down, we want somebody to take a big swing at it," Wilton said. "You want a go-to guy to take over. We think Pedro can be one of those guys."

• Can a freshman steer the offense?

As a freshman in 2001, Tuyay ran the show, even though he was six years younger than some of his teammates. This year, freshman Brian Beckwith will enter as the starting setter.

"I felt pretty comfortable from the start (of fall camp)," Beckwith said. "From my experience on the (junior) national team, I've able to play in, I would say, intense situations with good players and big atmospheres. It doesn't bother me."

At 6 feet 6, Beckwith is the tallest setter in UH history. His height makes it easy to receive libero Alfred Reft's passes and parlay them into high and quick sets. "His accuracy is there," Thomas said.

Beckwith and Reft, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, formed an immediate bond. "With his height, all I have to do is put the ball on top of the net and he's there," Reft said. "It makes my job easier. The big guys on the outside can hit fast. All around, the offense is so much quicker because the setting is higher."

Beckwith said: "We have a good connection. It started right from the beginning. We clicked right away."