Season of change

From a distance, a whistling military cadence echoed in the walkway leading to the University of Hawaii’s Gym I. "Like that?" said Milan Zarkovic, who set the tone — and the tune — for Friday’s opening practice of the UH men’s volleyball team’s training camp.

As the freshly hired assistant coach, Zarkovic brings 25 years of international coaching experience, a manic teaching style and whistle-while-you-work playfulness.

"It’s great to have him," said Charlie Wade, who begins his fifth season as the Rainbow Warriors’ head coach.

UH lost two players — libero Matt Cheape, who completed his NCAA eligibility, and outside hitter JP Marks, who signed a pro contract — from a team that made the postseason for the third time in four years. Still, the Warriors have undergone a significant makeover.

As coach of the Belarus national team, Zarkovic has written the book — actually, two books — on volleyball.

"We’re going to be better players having him around," outside hitter Siki Zarkovic said of his 51-year-old father.

Three former Warriors also are tutors. Jarrod Lofy is a graduate assistant, and Mauli’a LaBarre and Curt Vaughan are volunteers.

The Warriors’ roster is equally deep. The depth chart is written mostly in chalk, with only middle blocker Taylor Averill, libero Kolby Kanetake and, perhaps, setter Joby Ramos with sizeable leads at their positions.

Averill has lost about 20 pounds from his 6-foot-7 frame and added a couple of inches to his vertical jump. Unlike last year, when he was rebounding from shoulder surgery and unsure of a position, Averill was healthy through fall training.

"He has a chance to be one of the best middles in the league," Wade said of Averill, who hit .446 and averaged 0.92 blocks in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches.

Averill has blossomed after trimming "a little baby fat."

"It changed my life," Averill said of the weight loss. "You see things from a different perspective being a lighter guy."

Davis Holt, Nick West and Zach Radner, who redshirted last season, will compete for the second middle position.

Brook Sedore, the Warriors’ most disruptive server, has the edge at opposite over Iain McKellar, a 6-7 lefty from England.

Hendrik Mol, a freshman from Norway, was at opposite most of the fall. He will move to the left side, competing against Siki Zarkovic, Jace Olsen, Scott Hartley, Johann Timmer and Kupono Fey for the two outside spots.

The initial plan called for Fey, a freshman from Punahou School, to redshirt this season. But Fey played well in fall drills and now, according go Wade, "he’s absolutely in the mix."

Fey’s mother, Shelley, is chair of Punahou’s physical education department and a former UH basketball player and coach. Fey’s grandfather, Harry "Clown" Kahuanui, played basketball and football at UH, and was inducted into the school’s Circle of Honor in 1984.

"I wanted to play in the Stan (Sheriff Center) all my life," Fey said of his decision to sign with the Warriors. "It’s a big deal, honestly. The UH players are heroes on the island. To be (a UH player) is a great feeling."

Ramos had missed part of fall training because of a sprained ankle, but he already had created distance ahead of Jennings Franciskovic, a 6-5 freshman setter with a 36-inch vertical jump.

"It’s Joby’s spot," Wade said. "He’s been better all fall. It wasn’t even really close. … He’s a fourth-year guy who had a full year of starting play last year. That’s pretty valuable."

In a symbolic scene, Ramos was in Gym I 45 minutes before the start of Friday’s practice, setting up the nets.

"He’s a leader," Wade said.