The Hawaii men’s volleyball team is in reshaping mode with the addition of five players and the loss of two.

Two members of Long Beach City College’s state championship team — middle blocker Aniefre Etim-Thomas and setter Max Wechsung — and Irvine Valley College libero Garrett Komisarek have signed letters of intent with the Warriors. Liberos Kolby Kanetake of Moanalua High and Daniel Aina of Kamehameha-Hawaii will be joining as preferred walk-ons.

But middle blocker Shane Welch, who was limited to six matches in 2012 because of knee and ankle injuries, and opposite hitter J.J. Mosolff, who redshirted as a freshman this past season, will not return. It was a mutual decision for Welch and the Warriors to part ways. Mosolff wanted to play for a school near his family’s home in California. Also, outside hitter Stephen Maar, who made an oral commitment earlier this year, has decided to remain in Canada and attend McMasters College.

The departures of Welch and Jarrod Lofy, who graduated Saturday, vault Etim-Thomas into the competition for the second middle position. Nick West will be back for his junior season.

Etim-Thomas is 6 feet 3, but he has a vertical jump of 41 inches and can touch 11-7. In the past, Jason Ring, Jake Schkud and Brennon Dyer were effective but undersized middles for the Warriors.

"He’s really quick laterally," Wechsung said of Etim-Thomas. "Even if he’s not producing a whole bunch of kills, he blocks better than anyone I’ve ever seen."

Etim-Thomas was second in the California Community College Athletic Association in hitting percentage (.497) and fourth in blocks (1.91 per set). He said he always has been a skilled high jumper; he was a 5-11 high school freshman when he first dunked a basketball. He chose UH after a recent visit.

"You know how you make a pros-and-cons list?" he said. "When I went there, there was nothing but pros."

With 6-7 Wechsung at the controls, the Vikings led the CCCAA in kills per set (13.14) and hitting accuracy (.344).

He also was third in the state with 0.41 aces per set.

"That’s one of the things I really tried to work on," Wechsung said. "My goal was to play for a Division I school. I noticed if you want to play at that level, you have to have a tough serve. I spent a lot of time working on my toss and going through my routine."

Wechsung will compete against Sam Biscaro, last year’s starting setter.

Nick Castello’s graduation opens the competition at libero among Harrison Phelps, Matthew Cheape, Komisarek, Kanetake and Aina.