Warrior volleyball ready for Saturday opener

To move forward, the University of Hawaii volleyball team went on a retreat.

After three days of practices, meetings and leadership sessions on the North Shore, the Warriors declared themselves fit and ready for Saturday’s season opener against Stevens Institute of Technology. First serve is at 7:05 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.

As part of the training at Camp Erdman, the Warriors were not allowed to use their cell phones.

"It was great having the (sound of) the waves put you to sleep," opposite attacker Brook Sedore said. "It was almost like a lullaby."

Middle blocker Taylor Averill said: "We were with nature. There’s no better way to wake up than on the beach in paradise. We had some of the best practices of the (past) year."

The Warriors have crafted a partial opening lineup of middles Averill and Davis Holt, left-side hitter Siki Zarkovic, setter Jennings Franciskovic, and libero Kolby Kanetake.

Libero Garrett Komisarek, one of four co-captains, did not attend the retreat because of flu-like symptoms.

Head coach Charlie Wade said Kupono Fey, Scott Hartley and Hendrik Mol remain even at the second left-side position. The team practiced for two hours Thursday night and are scheduled to practice Friday afternoon.

Sedore and Ryan Leung were expected to duel at opposite. But the competition expanded to three with left-handed Iain McKellar’s strong play in a recent scrimmage.

McKellar "hit for the highest percentage the other day — .750," Wade said. "Just a stupid number. He crushed every ball that got set. He’s blocking balls. He’s been really good."

In past years, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation teams could experiment early, then rely on a strong showing in the MPSF playoffs to earn, at least, an at-large berth in the NCAA tourney. But now the NCAA is using the ratings percentage index as a criteria for tourney consideration.

"They all count," Wade said.