Post by V on Feb 26, 2003 5:45:32 GMT -5
Article con't
Here's a closer look:
PEPPERDINE
Record: 12-1, 10-0 MPSF
Starters: Brad Keenan (MB, 6-8, Sr., 2.64 kpg, 2.34 bpg), Andy Hein (MB, 6-10, Fr., 1.48 kpg, 0.93 bpg), Fred Winters (OH, 6-5, Jr., 4.05 kpg, 1.14 bpg), Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, So., 4.25 kpg, 0.89 bpg), Mike Gledhill (Opp., 6-5, So., 2.28 kpg, 0.88 bpg), John Mayer (S, 6-2, So., 13.25 apg), Dhiraj Coats (L, 6-2, Sr., 1.81 dpg).
Outlook: During the offseason, the Waves had to replace three starters, including Beau Daniels, the nation's best setter. Last month, starting middle blocker Andy Webb suffered a broken foot bone and won't play for another month.
Mayer, who transferred from Los Angeles Pierce College last summer, has been a functional setter, although he lacks Daniel's on-court savvy. "He's a green pea," Dunphy said. "Every day we're doing fundamental things with him. He's doing pretty well, but he still has a ways to go."
But Mayer's transition is eased by Keenan, the country's best middle, and left-side slammers Winters and Rooney. Keenan has perfected the step-out move, in which he clobbers sets placed near the right pin. It is a move that stretches a defense and targets a weaker back-row player. Keenan also leads the NCAA with 103 blocks.
Wilton insists Hein, the second starting middle, is a better blocker than Webb. "He's a good player," Wilton said, "and he's good at being 6-10."
While the Waves, in general, do not serve as aggressively as they did a year ago, Keenan still has the green light to rip away. "They're always hunting for the weak fish," Wilton said.
HAWAI'I
Record: 10-4, 6-4 MPSF
Starters: Delano Thomas (MB, 6-7, So., 2.92 kpg, 1.56 bpg), Brian Nordberg (MB, 6-5, Sr., 1.17 kpg, 0.67 bpg), Costas Theocharidis (OH, 6-3, Sr., 5.18 kpg, 0.75 bpg), Tony Ching (OH, 6-2, Sr., 3.20 kpg, 0.56 bpg), Eyal Zimet (Opp., 6-2, Sr., 1.77 kpg, 0.52 bpg), Kimo Tuyay (S, 6-2, Jr., 12.98 apg), Jake Muise (L, 6-0, Jr., 2.00 dpg).
Outlook: It is Wilton's hope that the reinvented Nordberg and Muise — Nordberg was a part-time starter last season; Muise started the first five matches this season — will reinvigorate the lineup. Nordberg is a better read blocker than the displaced Joshua Stanhiser, who is in his first season as a full-time volleyball player, and Muise adds floor-burning scrappiness to what had become a mechanical passing game.
"Jake makes huge digs when there's no block up," serving specialist Matt Bender said. "That's fun to watch. That's old-fashioned volleyball."
Wilton also has decided to expand Theocharidis' role. Before last Friday's match against Brigham Young, Wilton recalled: "Costas came up to me and begged for the ball more. I was waiting for that. Sometimes, I had a sense he didn't want the ball more. Maybe that was a poor read on my part. He's the guy we want to set."
When Zimet was moved from opposite to libero for two matches, Theocharidis was asked to become one of the two primary passers. With Zimet back at opposite, Theocharidis is free to swing away from the six rotation spots.
"It's always good to get it to Costas," Tuyay said. "Once (defenses) start camping on Costas, there are other guys free. It opens it up for the other hitters."
Theocharidis said he has developed a strong on-court relationship with Tuyay. As a freshman two years ago and during the early part of last season, Tuyay often would defer to his older teammates.
"For sure, he's matured the past three years," Theocharidis said. "He's not playing the way he was playing as a freshman. Sometimes he will struggle, but he's getting much better decision-wise. He's very much on his game right now."
Here's a closer look:
PEPPERDINE
Record: 12-1, 10-0 MPSF
Starters: Brad Keenan (MB, 6-8, Sr., 2.64 kpg, 2.34 bpg), Andy Hein (MB, 6-10, Fr., 1.48 kpg, 0.93 bpg), Fred Winters (OH, 6-5, Jr., 4.05 kpg, 1.14 bpg), Sean Rooney (OH, 6-9, So., 4.25 kpg, 0.89 bpg), Mike Gledhill (Opp., 6-5, So., 2.28 kpg, 0.88 bpg), John Mayer (S, 6-2, So., 13.25 apg), Dhiraj Coats (L, 6-2, Sr., 1.81 dpg).
Outlook: During the offseason, the Waves had to replace three starters, including Beau Daniels, the nation's best setter. Last month, starting middle blocker Andy Webb suffered a broken foot bone and won't play for another month.
Mayer, who transferred from Los Angeles Pierce College last summer, has been a functional setter, although he lacks Daniel's on-court savvy. "He's a green pea," Dunphy said. "Every day we're doing fundamental things with him. He's doing pretty well, but he still has a ways to go."
But Mayer's transition is eased by Keenan, the country's best middle, and left-side slammers Winters and Rooney. Keenan has perfected the step-out move, in which he clobbers sets placed near the right pin. It is a move that stretches a defense and targets a weaker back-row player. Keenan also leads the NCAA with 103 blocks.
Wilton insists Hein, the second starting middle, is a better blocker than Webb. "He's a good player," Wilton said, "and he's good at being 6-10."
While the Waves, in general, do not serve as aggressively as they did a year ago, Keenan still has the green light to rip away. "They're always hunting for the weak fish," Wilton said.
HAWAI'I
Record: 10-4, 6-4 MPSF
Starters: Delano Thomas (MB, 6-7, So., 2.92 kpg, 1.56 bpg), Brian Nordberg (MB, 6-5, Sr., 1.17 kpg, 0.67 bpg), Costas Theocharidis (OH, 6-3, Sr., 5.18 kpg, 0.75 bpg), Tony Ching (OH, 6-2, Sr., 3.20 kpg, 0.56 bpg), Eyal Zimet (Opp., 6-2, Sr., 1.77 kpg, 0.52 bpg), Kimo Tuyay (S, 6-2, Jr., 12.98 apg), Jake Muise (L, 6-0, Jr., 2.00 dpg).
Outlook: It is Wilton's hope that the reinvented Nordberg and Muise — Nordberg was a part-time starter last season; Muise started the first five matches this season — will reinvigorate the lineup. Nordberg is a better read blocker than the displaced Joshua Stanhiser, who is in his first season as a full-time volleyball player, and Muise adds floor-burning scrappiness to what had become a mechanical passing game.
"Jake makes huge digs when there's no block up," serving specialist Matt Bender said. "That's fun to watch. That's old-fashioned volleyball."
Wilton also has decided to expand Theocharidis' role. Before last Friday's match against Brigham Young, Wilton recalled: "Costas came up to me and begged for the ball more. I was waiting for that. Sometimes, I had a sense he didn't want the ball more. Maybe that was a poor read on my part. He's the guy we want to set."
When Zimet was moved from opposite to libero for two matches, Theocharidis was asked to become one of the two primary passers. With Zimet back at opposite, Theocharidis is free to swing away from the six rotation spots.
"It's always good to get it to Costas," Tuyay said. "Once (defenses) start camping on Costas, there are other guys free. It opens it up for the other hitters."
Theocharidis said he has developed a strong on-court relationship with Tuyay. As a freshman two years ago and during the early part of last season, Tuyay often would defer to his older teammates.
"For sure, he's matured the past three years," Theocharidis said. "He's not playing the way he was playing as a freshman. Sometimes he will struggle, but he's getting much better decision-wise. He's very much on his game right now."
