The Hawai'i volleyball team is prepared to be without one of its best blockers for this week's matches against third-ranked Pepperdine.

Matt "Dragon" Rawson, a junior middle blocker, did not practice yesterday while resting a subluxed left (non-swinging) shoulder.

Rawson will be fitted for a harness-like brace, but his availability is in question for matches Thursday and Friday.

"It's still pretty sore and stiff," Rawson said. "We'll see if (the brace) helps."

Rawson did not complete the 2008 season because of ligament damage in both shoulders. He underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder during the offseason. He did not compete in fall training camp.

Rawson aggravated the injury to his left shoulder in this season's first two matches, against Ohio State and Southern California. He did not play in the past Saturday's match against top-ranked Penn State.

"It's an old injury I've had," Rawson said. "I've been pretty fortunate. It hadn't been bothering me for a while until that (first match). It wasn't unexpected. I expected it to happen a few times this year. Hopefully, the brace will give me more support so I'm not as timid when I play."

But UH head coach Mike Wilton was not optimistic in setting a return date.

"It doesn't look great right now," Wilton said.

Jarrod Lofy, a second-year freshman, was Rawson's injury replacement during last week's Outrigger Hotels Invitational.

"I waited most of the fall for Dragon to recuperate," Lofy said. "Now that he's kind of injured himself again, I have to be ready. I'm hoping he'll be back soon."

Lofy has become an efficient hitter on quick sets. He said he is working to improve his blocking — too often hitters are able to tool spikes off his hands — and his serves.

"I want to be able to put a little more velocity on my serves, so it becomes a tougher float serve," he said. "On occasion, I can hit my float serves exactly the way I want to. But I'm not able to do that consistently. My goal is to be able to do that consistently."

Lawson's uncertain status means freshman Ramzi Korkor is elevated to the top backup middle blocker.

Korkor approached the UH coaches during the Junior national tournament in Utah last year. Korkor congratulated them on signing outside hitter Gus Tuaniga. When told the Warriors also were looking for a middle blocker, Korkor said: "That's great. I'm a middle."

At 6 feet 4, Korkor is shorter than the prototypical middle blocker. "A lot undersized," Wilton said.

But Korkor compensates with a quick vertical jump, good footwork and a keen eye for reading setters.

"He works really hard," Wilton said.

Korkor added: "Being a shorter middle gives me more of an advantage. People under-estimate me."

Korkor said he did not envision playing for the Warriors.

"I thought I would go to a local Wisconsin school, and that was it," Korkor said. "I've always wanted to play D1 volleyball. This is perfect."

The hardship, Korkor said, is on his parents, who stay up to watch the Warrior matches on the Internet.