Volleyball's finest will take national championship stage

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tyler Hildebrand set Long Beach State teammate David Lee during practice at the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Today's semifinals Penn State (23-6) vs. Long Beach State (27-6), 6 p.m. Lewis (19-13) vs. Brigham Young (27-4), 8 p.m. Saturday's final WHEN: 4 p.m. WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center

On one stage is Lewis, the defending national champion. Head coach Dave Deuser said his team, the first from Division II to win the NCAA volleyball title, has worn a bull's eye all season. He could be referring to the critics, cloaked in anonymity, who ratted to the NCAA about the eligibility of two of his players.

Another stage is occupied by Brigham Young, every University of Hawai'i sports fan's rival. The eligibility of two Cougars also was challenged during the season. One of the accused was middle blocker Victor Batista, who often celebrates his aces with a grenade-throwing motion.

Lewis and BYU meet tonight in a rematch of last year's NCAA championship match. BYU coach Tom Peterson said his team is not fueled by revenge, but added, "Our goal is to win a national championship."

The other semifinal matches Penn State, whose head coach was once Peterson's top assistant, and Long Beach State, whose roster features some of volleyball's most charismatic players.

The participants are correct in noting the final four is quite different from the regular season. The NCAA installed Sport Court, a Lego-like flooring in which squares are pieced together, in the Stan Sheriff Center. Lewis and BYU play their home matches on wooden courts.

The NCAA also requires the use of a Spalding MB TF 4000 volleyball that is different from the Molten ball used during the regular season.

Long Beach State setter Tyler Hildebrand said the Spalding ball "doesn't have as much bounce, as much energy."

He said the Spalding ball is good for jump-float servers, who can hit harder without worrying about serving long, but difficult for passers.

"The passer has to get used to how the ball bounces off his arms," he said.

Carlos Moreno, BYU's All-America setter, said the Spalding ball is slippery, creating further adjustments for the Cougars. They spent yesterday's practice getting used to hitting at sea level. On their Provo, Utah, campus, the thin air causes the ball to sail.

"We'll do our best," he said. "We won't make any excuses."

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