Warriors kick off ‘brutal’ road stretch

For the University of Hawaii volleyball team, there are no shortcuts to the postseason.

The Rainbow Warriors will play four road matches in five days, beginning with Friday’s meeting against sixth-ranked Stanford. The teams also play on Saturday night.

The Warriors and Cardinal are tied for seventh at 9-7 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The top eight teams qualify for the league’s posteason tournament.

The Warriors have a day off on Sunday, when they will drive from Palo Alto to Stockton, ahead of matches against Pacific on Monday and Tuesday.

"It’s the NBA, baby," UH coach Charlie Wade said. "It’s four matches in five days. No other (volleyball) team in the country has to do that. There are not that many collegiate athletes who have to do that in any sport and at any time. … It’s just brutal."

There are 13 MPSF teams. Twelve teams play home-and-home series against each other each season. Because of its geographical isolation, UH has a rotating schedule.

For instance, the Rainbow Warriors will play two road matches at Stanford this year, then the teams will play two matches in Hawaii next year.

Earlier this season, the Warriors were able to return to Hawaii between road matches against UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge.

To save travel expenses, Pacific agreed to play UH on two weeknights.

Wade said he appreciated Pacific’s willingness to reschedule. But Wade said this trip comes at a time when players are dealing with "nagging" ailments to knees, backs, shoulders and shins.

"It’s just hard on the players," Wade said.

This is the Warriors’ fourth road match of the season.

"We have to stay focused," libero Kolby Kanetake said. "There are going to be parts of the trip when we’ll be fatigued.

"We have to pull through mentally."

In practices this week, the Warriors focused mostly on passing and serving. They struggled against UC Irvine’s blend of push-float and jump-spin serves in two losses this past weekend.

Outside hitter Siki Zarkovic, a primary passer, said he credits his skills to his long-time coach.

"Mr. Zarkovic," he said of his father, Milan Zarkovic, a Rainbow Warriors assistant coach. "He taught me how to pass."

Told of his son’s comments, the elder Zarkovic smiled, and said, "every player (on the team) is my son. I work with all of them."

Milan Zarkovic has written two books on passing.

"The most important thing is to have spiritual and brain peace when you’re receiving (a serve)," he said. "You must totally concentrate."

He then pointed to his head, saying, "Everything (about passing) is here."

Kanetake said the elder Zarkovic has been helpful.

"When I pass, my weight sometimes is on my heels, and I tend to go backward," Kanetake said. "He’s teaching me to keep my weight forward. When my weight is back, that’s what pulls the (pass) farther off the net. Keeping my weight forward is going to get the ball to the net."