For the Hawaii volleyball team, the not-so-good news is middle blocker Shane Welch has a knee injury that will require surgery and at least three weeks of rehabilitation.
The good news is this is not 2011.
A year ago, the Warriors would have had difficulty weathering an injury to a key player. Now, Welch’s injury is a hiccup in the Warriors’ plans.
"We have some depth, and we have some people who can help us win," associate head coach Jeff Hall said.
Nick West, a 6-foot-8 transfer from UC Irvine, and 6-9 Jarrod Lofy, a fifth-year senior, will be the Warriors’ middle blockers for Thursday’s season opener against UC San Diego.
"Nick West is a true middle blocker," Hall said. "He’s tall and thin and can really block balls. He has the ability to jump, and he’s really explosive. He has the ability to get up in the air and decide where he wants to kill the ball. That’s always nice for middles to hang and bang."
West’s outgoing personality has made him a popular teammate.
"The team loves him," Hall said. "They’ve kind of rallied around him. He’ll be fun to watch in the next three years."
Lofy, who redshirted as a freshman in 2008, has the most seniority among the players
"It’s been a lot of fun," Lofy said. "I’ve had a wonderful time here."
Head coach Charlie Wade said Lofy was impressive during fall training.
"He played a ton," Wade said. "He’s a fifth-year guy, a big, strong dude with a live arm."
Wade said Lofy is an improved blocker, widening his reads.
"He’s better at shifting," Wade said. "He’s learned that there’s more to just standing there and trying to read (the attack) the whole time."
Lofy said: "It’s all hard work. It’s really as simple as that. I always try my best to do my best."
His dedication extends to the classroom. He is majoring in civil engineering.
"It’s just a matter of time management," Lofy said of balancing volleyball and academics. "You have to stay focused. There’s not any room to mess around. Once you realize that, it becomes a whole lot easier."
Davis Holt, a second-year freshman, and Taylor Averill, who has been practicing at setter and opposite attacker, are available to play in the middle. Averill, like West, is a UC Irvine transfer.
Welch said he suffered a tear to the meniscus in his left knee while playing beach volleyball on Christmas morning.
"I have to get a real quick surgery," Welch said. "It’s a quick little snip. It’ll be a quick recovery. I’ll be back on the court soon."
Although the usual rehabilitation is a month, Welch predicted, "Maybe three weeks. That’s what I’m going for. A quick recovery would be cool. I’ll take care of it, and be on my way."
