But Wilton left open the possibility of Thomas rejoining the Warriors in January for the start of the 2005 season.

"He has to take care of business," Wilton said. "It's doable."

Thomas, who remains on the team, is allowed to attend classes and receive financial aid from the athletic department.

It is not known when — or if — Azenha and Dante will be allowed to rejoin the Warriors. They still are attending classes.

For sure, Azenha and Dante will not play in this week's four exhibition matches against Pacific. The Warriors are in the fourth week of fall training camp.

Last season, Thomas, Azenha, Dante and José José Delgado were suspended for two matches for violating undisclosed team rules during a road trip.

Before the incident, Thomas, Azenha and Delgado were starters. Only Thomas and Azenha worked their way back into the rotation.

Thomas, a 6-foot-8 senior from Sacramento, Calif., was named to the 2002 All-America first team as a middle blocker. He played outside hitter last season, leading the Warriors in kills (4.0 per game) and points (473).

He returned to middle blocker during fall training camp.

Thomas is the only remaining full-time starter from the UH team that defeated Pepperdine in the final match of the 2002 NCAA Championships. The NCAA later stripped the Warriors of the title for using a player with professional experience.

Azenha was named to the 2004 All-America second team as an opposite hitter.

Last season, Azenha, who is 6-6, averaged 3.92 kills per game and led the Warriors with 53 aces.

Azenha is a 1999 graduate of Logos High in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was a member of Brazil's Junior National team for three years before enrolling at UH in August 2002.

Because of his participation in an international tournament, Azenha was ineligible to play in UH's first four matches of the 2003 season.

Later, the NCAA added to the sanction, ruling he should lose a year of eligibility. Although he played only two seasons at UH, he entered this academic year as a senior.

Dante, a 6-8 middle blocker from Kula, Maui, redshirted in 2003. He emerged as a part-time starter last season, a role he was expected to have in 2005.

The Warriors will use a revised lineup for the exhibition matches against Pacific tomorrow in the Stan Sheriff Center, Thursday at UH-Hilo, Friday on Moloka'i and Saturday on Kaua'i.

First serve is at 7 p.m. for each of the matches. Tickets are priced at $5 for general admission and $3 for students and senior citizens.

"We've been practicing for four weeks," Wilton said. "It'll be good to play against somebody else."

Wilton said he expects to finalize a starting lineup after today's practice. For now, the Warriors will open with Daniel Rasay at setter, Matt Bender at opposite hitter, Mauli'a LaBarre and Jake Schkud in the middle, Delgado and Lauri Hakala at outside hitter, and Alfred Reft at libero.

Wilton said Matt Carere will rotate at outside hitter. Middle blocker Kyle Klinger, who is recovering from a fractured bone in his foot, recently was cleared to run.