Rested Warriors ready for Northridge

The Hawaii volleyball team went back in time to prepare for matches against Cal State Northridge on Friday and Sunday.

The Warriors were forced to practice in Klum Gym, where they played their home matches two decades ago, because Gym I was undergoing repairs and the Stan Sheriff Center was used for basketball workouts on Wednesday.

“It’s not a bad place to practice,” UH coach Charlie Wade said. “The ceiling is a little higher” than in Gym I, where the Warriors usually practice.

The Warriors have practiced only once in the Stan Sheriff Center this season.

“The mantra we preach is focus on what you can control,” Wade said. “When there are things outside of your control, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to burn a lot of energy getting upset about them.”

What they hope to control is the second half of their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation schedule.

They are 4-8 in league matches.

“We need to go 8-4 in the second half,” Wade said.

Through their first 15 overall matches, the Warriors’ strength of schedule has been rated the most difficult in Division I/II.

The Matadors, ranked No. 8, are another challenge.

The Warriors should be well rested. They returned to Honolulu last week Wednesday following a road trip of four matches in five days. They took off the next day, practiced on Friday, then had Saturday, Sunday and Monday off.

“It’s unique to get a few days off this time of year,” Wade said.

Wade said it will be beneficial to have a day off between the Northridge matches. The Warriors usually play on consecutive nights.

“What we like is the day of recovery and preparation in between,” Wade said. “You have more time to go over the scouting report.”

There might be a possible tweak to the UH lineup. Left-side hitter JP Marks has missed a couple of practices because of an illness. Marks is expected to play, but if he is not available, the Warriors will turn to Jace Olsen or Johann Timmer. Olsen, a transfer from Penn State, was a starter earlier in the season.

Timmer, who was the serving substitute, has played well as a middle the past four matches. The move allows him to serve about three times each set. Wade said the plan is to get Timmer more swings as a middle.

Taylor Averill, who has experience as a pin hitter and setter, has emerged as a productive middle.

“He can dig a ball,” Wade said, adding Averill has expanded his strike zone on swings. “He’s hitting with range and purpose. His blocking is not spectacular, but he’s touching a lot of (shots).”