Posted on: Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Hawai'i ready for 'gi-normous' test

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In the most competitive conference in men's volleyball, it's hard to say "good" bye.

Pepperdine, for instance, was expected to be ranked No. 1 nationally entering tonight's match against Hawai'i in the Stan Sheriff Center.

But the Waves, who were idle last week, dropped one spot, to No. 3, after Hawai'i and UCLA split two matches in Los Angeles. UH moved up one place, to No. 2, and UCLA, which lost in three games Saturday, stayed at No. 1.

"That's a tough deal for them," UH outside hitter Matt Bender said of the Waves' drop in the USA Today/CSTV top-15 poll, which was released yesterday.

Then again, in the 12-school Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, a team that is idle is falling behind.

"Every (MPSF) team is good," Bender said. "It's tough to keep up."

The Waves are atop the MPSF standings with a 10-1 record. They have not played a non-conference match this season. UH is second at 9-1, followed by UCLA at 11-2.

"That's why the Pepperdine matches (tonight and Friday) are really big challenges," UH setter Brian Beckwith said. "We want to prove ourselves."

The Warriors are prepared to go with their third starting lineup in as many series. Kyle Klinger, who completed a stint in the Air Force last year, opens at middle blocker for the second consecutive match, replacing third-year sophomore Dionisio Dante.

In Saturday's match against UCLA, 6-foot-8 Klinger hit .400 and contributed to four blocks.

"I'm trying to gain experience," said Klinger, who has played indoor volleyball for 2ý years, "maybe three."

Lauri Hakala, who broke into the starting lineup last week, also keeps his job as the second left-side hitter. Although he struggled offensively at UCLA — a combined five kills and seven errors in the split — he compensated with accurate passing and serving.

"It's how you look at it," said Hakala, a first-year sophomore from Finland. "The second outside hitter is the passer. If you get a lot of passes, you get to stay in the game. Bender and Pedro (Azenha, the opposite hitter) can kill the ball. My job is to pass, serve well and play good defense."

The Waves also have a new look this season. John Parfitt has moved from middle blocker to outside hitter. John Mayer, the starting setter the past two seasons, is now the opposite hitter. Jonathan Winder, a 6-8 freshman who beat out Beckwith for a spot on the junior national team last summer, is the country's tallest setter.

"They're a huge team," UH's Bender said. "They're gi-normous, if there's such a word."

Klinger said: "That's something impressive about this league. You've got setters who are 6-8, and outsides who are just as tall, or taller, who can pass nails. Hopefully, we can adjust."

Against a taller block, the 6-2 Hakala said, attackers need to hit high or attempt ricochet shots.

"Those are the best remedies," Hakala said. "You have to hit high and hard and see what happens. You have to play smart."

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