The new ranking changes nothing. The work in progress continues to progress.
Although No. 2 Hawaii comes into the week up a notch in the AVCA coaches poll, the Rainbow Warriors have keyed on that other two “2s.” That being tied for second in the Big West standings after losing for a second time this season.
Last week’s split with UC Irvine may have kept the new “Pineapple-Orange Crate” trophy in Manoa at least until next year but oranges were of little consolation for the Warriors seeing their 14-match conference home winning streak snapped.
“It was a tough loss for us,” said Hawaii senior libero Tui Tuileta, named the Big West’s defensive player of the week on Monday. “It was a good wake-up call for us, back to reality.
| UH MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Stan Sheriff Center
>> Who: No. 13 Concordia-Irvine (8-6, 3-3 MPSF) at No. 2 Hawaii (9-2, 1-1 Big West)
>> When: Friday, 7 p.m. and Sunday, 5 p.m.
>> TV: None
>> Radio: Friday, 1500-AM; Sunday, 1420-AM
>> Series: First meeting
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“We know we’re working hard but you never know how hard the other team is working. If they go hard, you have to go harder. There’s a lot of good teams out there and you never know how these nonconference matches will help us down the road.”
The Eagles (8-6, 3-3 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) have the Warriors’ full attention after going 3-0 last week. The former NAIA power, in its first year in the MPSF, comes into the Stan Sheriff Center with its first national ranking in program history as well as the reigning MPSF defensive player of the week.
Senior middle Taylor Falduti was in on 15 blocks in Concordia’s three victories last week: six against USC, seven against Cal State Northridge and two in the upset sweep of then-No. 12 Grand Canyon.
Concordia’s roster also has three Hawaii prep products. Freshman Addison Enriques (Kamehameha-Hawaii) has seen the most playing time as a reserve libero while freshman opposite Owen Chun (Hanalani) and junior setter Isaiah Kaaa have played sparingly. Former BYU coach Shawn Patchell is in his fourth season with the Eagles.
“Obviously they’re playing well,” Warrior coach Charlie Wade said. “They’re really good defensively, both blocking and digging, which is hard to do because you’re usually good at one or the other.
“We’ll have to play well in order to win.”
Wade thought the weekly conference honors to Tuileta and junior hitter Stijn van Tilburg (player of the week) were well-deserved. Van Tilburg, an All-American opposite last season, has moved to the outside where he has become a six-rotation point scorer. He had a combined 48 kills against the Anteaters and ranks No. 3 nationally in kills (4.52 kps) and 16th in hitting percentage (.385).
