Johann Timmer is proof that early morning television can provide career opportunities.

Timmer’s first encounter with volleyball was through delayed telecasts of NCAA matches. Several years later, Timmer is a key member of Hawaii’s volleyball team.

"He’s just a well-rounded dude," UH coach Charlie Wade said of the multi-skilled Timmer.

Timmer will have a role in the Warriors’ four-match road trip, which begins against UCLA on Friday night.

For Timmer, it all began with insomnia.

"Every college (volleyball) championship was on ESPN," said Timmer, who was raised in New Zealand. The time difference meant an early-morning airing. Timmer would watch while videotaping the matches. He then would replay the tapes.

"That was one of the things I looked forward to," Timmer said.

Timmer developed his volleyball talents on river-sand courts and high school matches in New Zealand. There were few local post-high school opportunities in that sport.

"It’s always been a dream to play college volleyball," Timmer said. That meant learning to play outside hitter and going to college in the United States.

At 6-foot-6, Timmer had been trained as a middle initially.

"I wanted to move to outside hitter because I saw myself coming (to America) as an outside," Timmer said. "It’s pretty tough coming in as a middle."

Indeed, the Warriors were in need of an opposite attacker in the summer of 2011 after Jonas Umlauft decided to remain in Germany and not return for the 2012 season.

At the recommendation of a club coach, Wade called Timmer, who was set on going to Brigham Young.

"We kept talking to see if things would work out, and they did," Wade recalled of Timmer’s decision to attend UH.

Timmer was the starting opposite in 2012 until he landed awkwardly on a block attempt, suffering an injury to his left ankle and marking the end to his freshman season.

Timmer is fully healed this season. Wade said the challenge "is to find a role for him."

In a recent practice, Timmer played for the B team.

"He was the best guy in the gym," Wade said.

Timmer can play opposite and left-side hitter. He was used as a middle blocker in the fifth set of a victory over Stanford two weeks ago. He is considered the Warriors’ most powerful back-row hitter.

"And he can absolutely crush a serve," Wade said.

Timmer is the Warriors’ primary serving substitute. That guarantees Timmer one rotation turn each set. Wade would like to see Timmer’s duties expand, a scenario that would require him to break into the starting lineup.

Wade said Timmer’s best asset is a low-maintenance approach.

"The others tend to be a little more critical of the set," Wade said. "It doesn’t matter where it’s set. He’ll do something with it."

Timmer is undaunted by his limited playing time.

"I came here for a reason — to improve in volleyball," Timmer said. "It’s working out."

Timmer has come full circle. Now he and his teammates are television subjects.

"I’ll be walking in Ala Moana and some people will come up and say, ‘Nice game,’ " Timmer said. "It makes you realize it’s not just people in the stands who watch. It’s all of Hawaii."