Warriors ousted from MPSF playoffs

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i volleyball team's season came to an unexpected conclusion in a 30-23, 30-25, 23-30, 30-22 loss to Long Beach State last night in the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH's Mauli'a LaBarre, left, consoles Daniel Rasay after last night's MPSF playoff match loss to Long Beach State. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

And it ended with the Warriors dazed and confused, befuddled by jump-float serves they could not pass at crucial moments.

"Their float servers were giving us a lot of trouble, and we couldn't get into rhythm," said opposite hitter Matt Carere, one of UH's two primary passers. "That was the difference."

In particular, the Warriors had no answer for 49er middle blocker Duncan Budinger, who slammed 17 kills (against no errors) in 22 swings and mystified the Warriors with well-placed float serves to the right sideline.

The 49ers scored 14 points on Budinger's 25 serves, including four-point runs in Games 1 and 2, and a three-point surge in the final game.

Budinger, who aligns on the left side, usually floats serves to the middle of the court. But in the three practices leading to the match, Budinger noticed, "my cross-court serves were going in a lot more. I decided to try it (last night), and it happened to be working."

Most of the floaters went to UH libero Alfee Reft, who struggled to parlay them into passes near the net.

"I didn't pass well enough for the team," said Reft, his eyes reddened with frustration. "I don't know what to say. I didn't play my game. Other than that, it wasn't anything special. I can't even explain it. I'm a little mind-boggled right now."

Budinger said he did not target Reft, who is one of the nation's best passers. "I didn't want to miss long to the right," Budinger said. "If you're going to miss, you might as well hit the guy and keep the ball in play."

Even when Reft or Carere were able to pass the float serves, setter Brian Beckwith was forced to one side, making it easier for the 49ers to set the block.

The float serves "put pressure on them, and it meant they had to set from pin to pin," 49er coach Alan Knipe said. "It kept them from setting their middles. ... A jump float is a weird serve. It's not an easy ball to pass."

UH coach Mike Wilton said: "They ran us out of the Gym in Games 1 and 2 with their serves. The jump-float guys tormented us. It was kind of amazing."

Indeed, the Warriors had leads of 10-7 in Game 1 and 12-6 in Game 2, but each timed trailed at the 15-point mark.

"We just failed to pick up some easy plays," UH outside hitter Matt Bender said. "Those points are the points you need to get. If you get those points, that's the game. That's how things go."

In last week's final two regular-season matches, the Warriors relied heavily on senior outside hitter Pedro Azenha, who powered 10 aces in the sweep of Pacific. Last night, Azenha was not effective with his powerful jump serves.

The Warriors managed two points on Azenha's 14 serves. He also had five service errors.

"I don't know what happened," Azenha said. "I tried really hard, but it wasn't happening. There are no excuses."

At the end of Friday's practice, Wilton told the players not to press. "I think he was trying to do too much," Wilton said of Azenha.

After the match, Wilton hugged Azenha, who had 16 kills but nine errors, and told him, "Don't feel any of this was your fault. There were other factors."

In particular, the 49ers were able to effectively temper shots by Azenha and Bender with touches or blocks.

On defending Azenha, Budinger said: "He likes to hit on the left side and cross-court. He also has the ability to hit the line. You have to get straight over on him, and hope for the best."

The 49ers also rotated their block. Sometimes opposite hitter Yassir Sliti covered the middle; on a few plays, setter Tyler Hildebrand and outside hitter Robert Tarr formed the block.

UH middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre, who entered in Game 3, said: "It was a tough loss, but we gave it our best. Now we'll get ready for next year, and we'll wish (the 49ers) the best of luck. They played a good match."

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