’Bows test skills against unknown King

In word association, the response to “King University” is … a shrug.

“We don’t know a whole lot about them,” University of Hawaii volleyball setter Jennings Franciskovic said of the Warriors’ season-opening opponent in tonight’s Outrigger Resorts Invitational.

First serve is 7 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center. Harvard and Lewis meet in the 4 p.m. match.

King, an NCAA Division II private school in Bristol, Tenn., competes in 9-year-old Conference Carolinas.

“It’s men’s volleyball,” UH coach Charlie Wade said. “There are way more players than there are programs. I imagine they’re going to have 20-, 21-, 22-year-old men who are going to spike and play volleyball. I imagine they’re going to be good.”

The NCAA relies on its ratings percentage index to help determine the at-large teams for the postseason tournament.

“Because of the way the RPI is structured, we need to play non-conference opponents,” said Wade, who declined to invite a fellow Mountain Pacific Sports Federation member to the 22nd Outrigger. “I felt it was important to get someone from that league.”

The Warriors, who reached the NCAA play-in round last year, are expected to be favored in tonight’s match despite inexperience in the middle. Last year’s starting middles, All-America Taylor Averill and Davis Holt, completed their eligibility in May. Zach Radner decided to focus on academics, and freshman Patrick Gasman will miss the season because of a broken foot.

The Warriors will rotate three at the two middle positions, none of whom played there last season. Hendrik Mol, a junior, moved from outside hitter to the middle after an infection resulted in diminished vision in his left eye. Iain McKellar, who recovered from a torn left meniscus, switched from opposite to the middle. McKellar is a rare left-handed-hitting middle.

“It’s a completely different set when you’re dealing with a lefty,” Franciskovic said. “But, I think, Iain is good enough to make it a little easier.”

In practices last year, Franciskovic would feed back-sets to McKellar, who would unleash powerful swings. “He could hit it,” Franciskovic said.

Nainoa Frank, a 2013 Kalaheo High graduate, signed with UH that year but delayed enrolling because of financial and personal issues. This past summer, Frank called Wade, asking if he could still join. Wade agreed.

Frank can bench press 300 pounds, thanks to weight-lifting equipment he and hisbrother purchased.

“Anytime you wanted to work out, you could go to the backyard and do a couple sets,” Frank said. “I knew if I got into UH, I would be ready.”

Mol, McKellar and Frank took turns in the middle during Monday’s exhibition loss to SportConX, a semi-pro team featuring former local standouts Taylor Crabb, Brad Lawson and Vernon Podlewski.

“We played well against some of the best players to come out of this state,” Franciskovic said.

The Warriors received a boost from Stijn van Tilburg, a 6-foot-8 freshman opposite from the Netherlands. Van Tilburg is the high-ball-hitting threat missing since Jonas Umlauft, the two-time NCAA scoring leader, departed UH after his sophomore season.

“Earlier in the year, we were trying to work on playing faster,” Franciskovic said. “We got to the point where it was like, ‘Just put up a ball with air for (van Tilburg) to hit.’ He’s such a tall guy with a good jump who hits at a high point. Why put it down to the blockers’ level when I can just put it up and let him hit it. You can put any (set) up there. He’s such a volleyball guy who knows how to make adjustments. Even if I give him a (bad) set, he’s going to do something with it.”