UH sweeps UC San Diego
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In the first 30 matches of this volleyball series spanning a dozen years, UC San Diego could not figure out a way to beat Hawai'i.
Match No. 31 was no different.
The Warriors decoded the latest Triton scheme en route to 30-21, 31-29, 32-30 sweep last night before 3,420 in the Stan Sheriff Center.
"It was a nice little win," said UH outside hitter Pedro Azenha, who hammered a match-high 13 kills despite playing on a tender left ankle.
The Warriors improved to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Tritons, who have never won more than two MPSF matches in the same season, are 4-4 and 2-3.
In a three-game loss on Wednesday night, the Tritons could not establish a middle attack against the taller Warriors. At 6 feet 6, setter Nate Jones is the tallest Triton; UH's average starting hitter is 6 feet 7.
Last night, the Tritons decided to turn their offense inside-out, with Jones trying to set quickly to the perimeter hitters. Even middle hitter Kevin Keyser used step-out moves every other play to loop to the outside.
"We thought we could open up the outsides," Jones said.
The Warriors anticipated that strategy, spending Thursday's 45-minute video session trying to detect Jones' tipoffs when he wants to set to the perimeter.
"We definitely knew they were going to change some things up, and we definitely wanted to counter that," UH setter Brian Beckwith said. "On the outside attack, they tried to hit down the line more. That was an adjustment (on defense) we tried to make pretty early. It seemed to work."
The Warriors extended their block, sending a blocker wide to cover the line, and aligning libero Alfred Reft deep to dig shots that cleared the wall.
Although the final two games went into extra play, the Warriors managed to contain the Tritons' outside hitters. Opposite hitter Jim Waller and outside hitter Adam Toren combined for 14 of the Tritons' 24 hitting errors. Toren, who had seven kills in 12 swings after the first two games, committed six hitting errors in 11 swings in Game 3. The Warriors amassed seven of their 14 blocks in the final game.
UH middle blocker Joshua Stanhiser's handprints could be found on the Tritons' collapse. The 6-foot-10 Stanhiser assisted on seven blocks and used his long reach to sucker the Tritons into hitting soft roll shots.
"Josh was putting up a big block," UH middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre said.
Stanhiser said: "It didn't seem like anyone was really getting a good swing. That helped us out."
On offense, Stanhiser buried 10 kills in 14 swings, including a thunderous kill off an overpass in Game 2.
"When he slammed that ball, I was impressed," UH opposite hitter Jose Delgado said. "I thought, 'That's the Josh we need all of the time.' He's an awesome guy."
Perhaps Stanhiser's biggest contribution on offense was as a decoy. In a typical match, a middle blocker will jump 80 percent of the time with the intention of drawing a blocker while the set goes to an outside hitter. Because he rarely shows emotion, Stanhiser gives fits to opposing blockers trying to read him for clues to where the set is going.
"I've seen him get mad at himself once in practice," LaBarre said, "but other than that, his emotions never fluctuate."
UH coach Mike Wilton said: "He's pretty serene. He's not a real emotional guy."
Stanhiser admitted that when he was little, "I had a temper. But it got me nowhere. I try to keep an even head. I haven't been mad in years."
To be sure, the Warriors, who entered the season with new starters at every position, are not ready to remove the "Work in Progress" tag. They gave away 18 points on service errors, including 10 in Game 2. One serve struck the antenna; another drooped under the net.
LaBarre, who missed the past two seasons while on a church mission in Russia, is struggling for consistency. He played a part in six blocks and made a loud kill in Game 3. But Wilton said LaBarre is telegraphing his shots by hitting the ball in the direction his body is facing.
"If he runs this way," said Wilton, pointing to the right, "that's the way he's hitting. We call it 'hitting what you're selling.' If you're selling, the blockers are usually buying. He's got to sell one thing and do something else. He's going to get better at it. He's a hard worker."
Wilton also is hopeful Azenha is returning to the level of play before suffering a sprained left ankle on Jan. 10. Azenha, who missed two matches, had a combined 25 kills in the two matches against UC San Diego. After Thursday's practice, Wilton opened the possibility of limiting Azenha's playing time last night. Instead, Azenha played in all three games.
"I'm not jumping as high and I'm not moving as quick, but I'm ready to play," Azenha said. "I can play like this. Of course, it's sore. It's not completely healed. But I'm still doing rehab and icing it. I can play."
The Warriors will host Ball State Wednesday and Thursday in nonconference matches at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
