Outrigger event boasts premier field

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	WHAT: College men's volleyball tournament WHERE: Stan Sheriff Arena TODAY Lewis vs. Manitoba, 5 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Penn State, 7:30 TOMORROW Lewis vs. Penn State, 5 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Manitoba, 7:30 SATURDAY Manitoba vs. Penn State, 5 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Lewis, 7:30 TICKETS: $14 (lower bowl), $11 (upper bowl), $9 (senior citizens, upper bowl), $3 UH students and ages 4 to 18. Parking is $3.

The NCAA endorses that view, and this year will use the Outrigger tournament as a dry run for the NCAA final four, which also will be held at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center. NCAA site inspectors will attend the Outrigger tournament, which begins today with two matches and runs through Saturday night.

"No question about it, this is the premier tournament during the regular season," said Lewis coach Dave Deuser, whose defending national champions will compete in their third Outrigger tournament. "As far as the level of competition and the way things are run, this is the best tournament in the country."

This year's field includes host UH, Lewis, Penn State and Manitoba, which won three of the last four Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships.

Here's a look at the field:

Manitoba Bisons

• MB 5 Jeff Zylstra 6-7 So.
• MB 9 Andrew Heidebrecht 6-6 Jr.
• S 4 Mike Munday 6-5 Sr.
• OH 10 Toon Van Lankvelt 6-6 So.
• OH 2 Josh Klassen 6-3 Jr.
• OPP 11 Murray Laidlaw 6-3 Sr.
• L 7 Scott Masterson 6-0 Sr.

Head coach: Garth Pischke (1,000-221, 24th year)

Outlook: The offense revolves around Munday, who played at Ball State four years ago and is on track to set for Canada's national team in the 2008 Olympics. Munday can chase down errant passes and, at 6 feet 5, is an active blocker. "He does everything well," Pischke said. "He's certainly the most competitive guy we have on the team. He runs the show." Klassen is the best outside passer, the role he played on last summer's junior national team. Last year's two starting middles completed their eligibility, but Zylstra and Heidebrecht have progressed rapidly in recent weeks. The Bisons lost two of three games in a scrimmage against a UH alumni team Tuesday, but the exhibition was mostly a chance to get acclimated.

Outrigger history: First appearance.

Fun fact: "Let's Make A Deal" host Monty Hall is a Manitoba graduate.

Lewis Flyers

• MB 16 Greg Pochopien 6-5 Jr.
• MB 2 Enrique Escalante 6-6 So.
• S 14 Brandon Sisk 6-3 So.
• OH 7 Jeff Soler 6-6 Jr
• OH 15 Jon Bergmann 6-6 Fr.
• OPP 8 Matt Mueller 6-5 Jr.
• L 9 Ryan Stuntz 5-10 Sr.

Head coach: Dave Deuser (237-98, 11th year)

Outlook: Because the opening match against Manitoba does not count in the regular-season standings, the Flyers will not start setter Jose Martins and opposite hitter Fabiano Barreto. Gustavo Meyer, the country's most efficient outside hitter, did not make the trip after questions about his eligibility were forwarded to the NCAA. Middle blocker James Elsea, a co-captain with the quickest swing on the team, is recovering from an injury and won't play. The Flyers always have emphasized offense over defense, although Soler has worked hard to improve his passing. After most workouts, Soler uses a serving machine to practice his passing. His jumping ability — he can touch a marker 11 1/2 feet from the ground — makes him an imposing blocker.

Outrigger history: Third appearance, 2-4 record.

Fun fact: The Flyers' practice jerseys feature the word "aloha" and a shaka sign as reminder that this year's NCAA final four is in Hawai'i.

Penn State Nittany Lions

• MB 14 Keith Kowal 6-5 Sr.
• MB 11 Nate Meerstein 6-9 So.
• S 2 Dan O'Dell 6-7 So.
• OH 8 Aaron Smith 6-5 Fr.
• OH 7 Kevin Wentzel 6-4 So.
• OPP 4 Matt Proper 6-6 So.
• L 1 Ricky Mattei 5-11 Sr.

Head coach: Mark Pavlik (191-72, 10th year)

Outlook: The Lions lost four starters, but return one of the country's best passers (Mattei) and a 6-foot-7 setter (O'Dell). Proper, who can touch 11 feet, 11 1/2 inches, is a streak hitter who can handle quick or high sets. Meerstein played in 22 matches last season. Smith is the jewel of the recruiting class, although Pavlik cautioned, "I'm interested to see how he responds to being in this environment for the next three days." O'Dell is a crafty setter who will miss departed middle hitters Zach Slenker and Norman Keil and outside hitters Carlos Guerra and Zeljko Koljesar. "We've lost experience and we've lost volleyball IQ a little bit," Pavlik said. "In past years, we did things with sets that weren't so perfect because we had experience out there. We're trying to figure things out now."

Outrigger history: 10th appearance, 6-20 record.

Fun fact: Kowal's sister is Kristy Kowal, a swimmer who won a silver medal at the Sydney Games and was named the NCAA's Woman of the Year in 2000.

Hawai'i Warriors

• MB 16 Mauli'a LaBarre 6-8 So.
• MB 22 Joshua Stanhiser 6-10 Sr.
• S 10 Brian Beckwith 6-6 Fr.
• OH 17 Delano Thomas 6-7 Jr.
• OH 7 Jose Delgado 6-3 So.
• OPP 12 Pedro Azenha 6-7 So.
• L 11 Alfred Reft 5-10 So.

Head coach: Mike Wilton (224-93, 12th season)

Outlook: Thomas' move from the middle, where he was a first team All-American, to outside hitter is eased by a tinkering in the rotation in which he will never be one of the prime passers except in specific jump-serve situations. Beckwith's height helps in accelerating the offense — he can set high and quick — and his dump shots off passes give him an advantage as unfair as baseball slugger Barry Bonds bunting for a hit. Wilton also hired sports counselor Ben Erwin to help with the mental aspects of volleyball.

Outrigger history: Won titles in 1996, 1997, 1999.

Fun fact: Outside hitter Ryan Woodward's girlfriend, Olena Rubin, recently was named Miss West O'ahu, qualifying for the Miss Hawai'i pageant.

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