X-rays taken Tuesday did not show any fractures or tears. Klinger was cleared to practice yesterday, although UH coach Mike Wilton said the team's medical staff "would like it a lot if we would rest him" this weekend.

Wilton said if Klinger "had to play, he will," an indication 6-foot-8 sophomore Dionisio Dante might start in tonight's non-conference match.

The other starting middle blocker, 6-foot-9 junior Mauli'a LaBarre, vowed to rebound from last week's four-game loss to Pepperdine, during which he failed to register a block.

LaBarre said he has worked on improving his block reads by focusing on the opposing setter's movements. He also believes he has solved his problem of trying to hold the middle too long, a deficiency that creates seams for opposing attackers.

"It's simple things," he said. "But the big problems come from not taking care of the small things."

This week, Wilton has conducted open auditions at left-side hitter, a position requiring skills in passing and attacking. A decision will be made today.

"It'll make (pre-match) introductions a little more interesting," Wilton said.

José José Delgado, an accurate passer, has started 11 of the Warriors' 15 matches. But he is hitting .162.

Lauri Hakala also has been inconsistent. The latest contenders are Matt Carere, who has fully recovered from a preseason back injury, and Jake Schkud, who opened training camp as the starting middle blocker.

"After the Pepperdine series, we let the players know we're throwing (the competition) open," Wilton said. "The outside hitter has to be able to pass and hit a ball for points. We're having a challenge accomplishing those two deals."

Wilton said each outside hitter is rated on passing, digging, hitting and point production during practice. The scores are posted at the next day's practice.

"This stuff is science," Wilton said. "There's the science of coaching and the art of coaching. The art has to do with gut feelings. I try to use science and art."

Schkud had the best practices Monday and Tuesday; Carere was superior Wednesday.

"He doesn't make a lot of mistakes," Wilton said of Carere. "He's not a real powerful hitter. I don't know how he'll be banging against the double block all of the time."

Schkud is a powerful hitter but an inexperienced passer, mostly because of his time spent at middle.

"The hitting and blocking and knowledge of the game are there for me," said Schkud, who transferred from UC Santa Barbara, where he redshirted as a freshman last season. "It's my passing that holds me back. I'm working before and after practice on my passing."

Schkud has the advantage of a long working relationship with setter Brian Beckwith. "We've been playing volleyball together since we were 13," Schkud said. "He knows what I'm thinking, and I know what he's thinking without anything being said."

Wilton is hopeful the rest of the team will practice non-verbal communication for this match. In the second Pepperdine match, the Warriors lost focus after repeatedly protesting what they insisted was uneven officiating.

"We were out of control," Wilton said. "That's going to stop. I'm going to guarantee we're going to react better to whatever happens."

Wilton said only Beckwith, the floor captain, will speak to the officials.

"I'm going to make it clear to the officials that's going to happen," Wilton said.

"That's the rule, anyway," Beckwith said. "There were a couple of tough calls we couldn't get past. We took ourselves out of that (match). We're past it now."