Posted on: Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Warrior men in good shape as camp begins
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In a symbolic statement, the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team proved it is ready to meet an uphill challenge.
Yesterday's opening of fall training camp featured the rite-of-Warrior sprint up the three blocks of Frank Street. The returning players are required to cover the distance in 1 minute, 55 seconds; the newcomers get an extra 5 seconds.
"This is the first time since I've been here," said Mike Wilton, who enters his 12th season as UH coach, "where every player passed the Frank Street test on the first try. It shows how hard they worked during the offseason. There seems to be really good chemistry."
The Warriors have 20 players in training camp. Sean Carney, a 2004 Iolani School graduate who was named The Advertiser's 2003 State Volleyball Player of the Year, and outside hitter Jon Bergmann, a 6-foot-6 outside hitter, will join in late December. They are transferring from Lewis University.
The 22-player roster will be the largest in Wilton's tenure. The Warriors are limited by space (they have 18 stalls in their locker room) and the school's gender-equity ratio. But Wilton said he has secured permission from the athletic department to expand the roster beyond 18.
"The larger roster is a one-year-only deal," he said. After that, "it's going to be year-to-year on that."
There are two significant changes to this year's team: Delano Thomas' return to the middle and Jose Jose Delgado's smaller waistline.
Thomas, a 6-foot-7 senior, was an All-America middle blocker as a sophomore. He moved to left-side hitter last season. With Joshua Stanhiser's graduation and the recruitment of outside hitters/passers, "Delano is in the middle," Wilton said.
He added: "I would say if Delano wants to play outside again — and he's entirely capable of doing that — it will have to be at the next level. For his senior year, he's going to play in the middle, and he's very, very good there."
The other challengers for the two middle positions are Mauli'a LaBarre, Dionisio Dante, Kyle Klinger and Jake Schkud. Klinger, who is 6 feet 8, is a military veteran. Schkud is a 6-5 transfer from UC Santa Barbara.
Delgado, who is 6- 3, said he lost 30 pounds and now weighs 170. "Jose has changed a lot," Wilton said. "He's in great shape."
Last season, the Warriors relied on a two-passer attack. This year, the two left-side hitters will share the passing duties with the libero.
Delgado, Matt Carere, Schkud and Lauri Hakala of Finland are the top candidates for the two left-side positions.
The other competitions are at opposite hitter (Pedro Azenha and Matt Bender), libero (Eric Kalima and Alfred Reft) and setter (Daniel Rasay and Brian Beckwith).
Local Motion, which provided board shorts and jerseys, has discontinued its sponsorship. ASICS, which provided footwear and knee pads, now will outfit the Warriors entirely. The ASICS deal is valued at $9,000.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
