Grand View brings back local contingent for match vs. Hawaii

Even before exchanging videotapes with Grand View, Hawaii coach Charlie Wade knew what kind of volleyball to expect from this week’s opponent. With three coaches and four players from the islands, the top-ranked team in the NAIA is big on the local style that features solid ball control and flying-around-the-court defense.

That the Vikings also have four players from Brazil and three from Puerto Rico, “I’m expecting some good, competitive volleyball this week,” Wade said. “We should have a size advantage, but they’re pretty good offensively.

“For us, the nonconference matches give us an opportunity to work on getting better. It lessens the importance of winning — of course winning is always important — but it is more about us continuing to improve.”

The No. 5 Rainbow Warriors returned from their first road trip 1-2, unable to hold on in going five at No. 5 Long Beach State last Wednesday then getting swept by the 49ers on Friday. They salvaged their three-matches-in-four-days Mountain Pacific Sports Federation trek by topping then-No. 6 UC Irvine in four last Saturday.

“We needed that one,” said Hawaii senior hitter Kupono Fey, whose 22nd birthday celebration included the victory over the Anteaters. “We’re excited to be back home, see what we can do against a team from a different league and level.

“It’s good to see different styles, especially if they’re smaller. We want to be able to compete with teams like that and be prepared for different strategies.”

“I’m expecting them to be very scrappy,” added freshman hitter Austin Matautia. “Each team has a different style and this will help us prepare us for the future.”

Although only one Hawaii prep product — senior middle Savili Bartley (Kamehameha) — has made the flight from Des Moines, Iowa, three of the Vikings staff are from the islands. Head coach Donan Cruz (Baldwin), who started the program six years ago, has Kyle Hanagami (Waiakea) and Rhett Kane (Kamehameha) among his assistants.

Grand View, the NAIA national runner-up to Missouri Baptist last April, features Brazilians Pedro Cardoso, a 6-foot-3 hitter averaging 4.14 kills per set, and 6-9 setter Felipe Rosa, who has the Vikings hitting .396, as well as senior libero Steve Harvey from St. Louis, who anchors a defense averaging 34 digs a match. Cardoso and Harvey were named the Heart of America Conference attacker and defender of the week, respectively, on Wednesday in helping Grand View open 3-0 at home last week.

The Warriors have won nine straight at home dating back to last season and 17 consecutive non-MPSF contests at the Stan Sheriff Center going back to 2014.

Hawaii is led by 6-8 sophomore opposite Stijn van Tilburg, who upped his kill average to 3.92 kps after putting down 19 last Saturday at UCI. Freshman Rado Parapunov, a 6-9 opposite, is at 3.0 kps, including 23 in his first career start in the five-set loss at Long Beach State.

The Warriors will have a size advantage in the middle with 6-6 senior Hendrik Mol (1.30 kps, 0.83 blocks per set) and 6-10 freshman Patrick Gasman (2.12 kps, 1.08 bps). Senior setter Jennings Franciskovic has helped UH to hit .307 and has 20 blocks, one of which made ESPN’s Top 10 Plays of the Week on Jan. 11.