Timmer might be done for the year

There are two significant changes to the travel roster as the Hawaii men’s volleyball team prepares for key road matches.

The Warriors will be without Johann Timmer — perhaps for the rest of the season — after the freshman opposite attacker from New Zealand suffered an ankle injury in an exhibition match this past weekend.

Assistant coach Vernon Podlewski, who helps craft the scouting report, is not traveling because his wife is close to giving birth to the couple’s second child.

"Vern is a big part of the program in many ways," associate head coach Jeff Hall said. "We’re going to try to fill the void. We wish him well with his future son."

Maulia LaBarre, a volunteer assistant, replaced Podlewski on the travel roster.

Timmer was expected to have a role in road matches against Southern California on Friday and Sunday, and Stanford next week. The four-match, 10-day trip is the Warriors’ longest this season.

"He was making a lot of progress," head coach Charlie Wade said of Timmer.

In fall training, Timmer seized the opposite’s job vacated when Jonas Umlauft decided not to return for his junior season. But Timmer suffered an ankle injury that prevented him from playing in the final weeks of fall training. He started the first six matches, hitting better than .500 in two of them, before suffering a staph-like infection.

In recent matches, Timmer had regained the power swing and vertical jump that had diminished after his injury.

"He was starting to spike the ball well," Hall said. "He was getting good movement. He was quick. He kind of helped himself and then he hurt himself."

Timmer suffered a third-degree sprain, the most severe of the three levels.

Taylor Averill is expected to start against USC. Brook Sedore, Stanley Hinkle, Scott Hartley and Harrison Carroll have played opposite this season. Carroll replaced Timmer on the travel roster.

"I think Harrison Carroll is the next guy in line," Hall said. "We’ll start the normal suspects, and if we can’t get any production out of them on the right side, we’ll start Harrison Carroll."

The staff has been pleased with Averill, who is an active blocker, accurate transition setter, and improved back-row hitter.

"This week was a good week for (Averill) to work on a few things he needed to work on," Hall said. "He had a good week."