Hawai'i Signs Middle Blocker

[D'oh J. Simpson]

Warriors Ink Southern California Middle Blocker


Release Date: 12/02/04

HONOLULU - University of Hawai`i head men's volleyball coach Mike Wilton announced today that the Warriors landed a big-time player from California.

Matthew Rawson, a 6-8 middle blocker, signed a National Letter of Intent with UH for the 2006 season.
The Los Angeles native is a student-athlete at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

The prep star is a two-time USA Volleyball Association All-American and has spent time training with the Youth Junior National team.

Rawson is the only early signing for the Warriors who open up the 2005 campaign with a pair of exhibition matches Dec. 29 and 31 at the Stan Sheriff Center against the University of Alberta (Canada).


www.hawaiiathletics.com/pr.html?prid=13252&p=11

[sjhaysuess]

Why only 1 early signing? Do they have a lot of walk-on locals?

[cbrown1709]

They can't sign yet for 2006 players. They can only commit, right?

[warriordudette88]

here's the link to the 2005 roster. they just put up pictures of the guys. shawn carney and the other guy from lewis are not on yet.

www.hawaiiathletics.com/roster.html?p=11

[roy]

You don't see a lot of press on signings for men's volleyball, even in Hawaii. I think part of it is due to the season. We haven't even started the 2005 season and there is talk about the 2006 recruit. Maybe it's just not "news-worthy" enough. No one has any idea what the 2005 roster is going to look like so it makes it a little hard to talk about a player who might or might not make an impact. For the women, it's easier. The early signing period is near the end of the season and fans can get an idea of what posititions need replacing. Men's volleyball makes it a little harder to see when you have no clue who the starters are going to be for this season.

Along those lines, Hawaii has a huge roster this year, with only Thomas, Azenha, and Rasay as seniors. Hawaii will return a lot for 2006, assuming we keep most of the players.

[me]

Beckwith, Clar, Carere, Ribeiro, and Sawicki are such honeys!