Warriors making adjustments to positions

For University of Hawaii men’s volleyball coach Charlie Wade, the poll-position announcements signal the approach of a new year.

“The season is coming quickly,” said Wade, whose Rainbow Warriors have completed fall training.

A day after being voted No. 7 in the national rankings, the Warriors were selected sixth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation poll on Thursday.

“The preseason rankings are based somewhat on last year’s performance,” Wade said. “I’m not that concerned about the preseason rankings.”

The Warriors return their three best passers — libero Kolby Kanetake and outside hitters Siki Zarkovic and Kupono Fey — and setter Jennings Franciskovic. “They’re two of the first three contacts,” Wade said, “which is comforting.”

But the Warriors are seeking to fill vacancies at both middles and opposite. “We’ve had every middle play opposite and every opposite play middle,” Wade said.

Stijn Van Tilburg, a 6-foot-8 freshman from Amsterdam, is the leading candidate to succeed last year’s opposite, Brook Sedore.

Last year’s starting middles — Taylor Averill and Davis Holt — graduated. Zach Radner, who was projected to start, decided to focus on his engineering studies. Vaughn Wellenreiter did not return for his senior season. Kekoa Pukahi went on a church mission. Freshman Patrick Gasman will miss the season after suffering a fractured foot.

Wade said several players have auditioned in the middle, including left-handed Iain McKellar, a converted opposite. An intriguing option is Franciskovic, who recently was measured with a 45-inch vertical jump off a running start and a 12-foot touch.

“Jennings is just a Pogo Stick right now,” Wade said.

Wade is experimenting with using Franciskovic as a middle/setter who would block and then circle to set in the same sequence.

“We can be a little creative,” Wade said.

Except for the liberos, Wade noted, the players are not tethered to one position. “We play volleyball,” Wade said. “Everybody has to play everywhere.”