Confidence comes in many shapes and sizes. This one wears size 15 shoes that are connected to a 6-foot-10 frame.
There is nothing small about Patrick Gasman.
Not his passion for volleyball. Not his desire to improve his game every chance he gets. Not his focus to be present every play — whether it’s in practice or a match — this season.
“My mentality this year is simple,” the junior middle said as No. 2 Hawaii prepared to host Lincoln Memorial tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center. “Hit the ball as hard as I can, be as effective as I can blocking, and not take plays off.”
It’s not that Gasman was ineffective last year — AVCA honorable mention All-American, 15th nationally in blocks (1.09 per set) — but the reigning Big West defensive player of the week has been in a zone of late. He leads the country in blocks (1.684 per set) and his connection with senior setter Joe Worsley has Gasman hitting .482, which would put him fourth nationally if he had enough attacks to qualify.
Against Queens last Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., Gasman was in the front row for three rotations and had what many middle blockers would consider a career night. He was in on Hawaii’s first five blocks, including three straight, that had the Warriors up 10-0 in Set 1; his fifth kill without an error pushed the lead to 17-2.
Gasman rotated out at 20-2 and was done for the night.
“In the zone? Yeah,” said Gasman, who had 18 blocks and 15 kills in six sets as Hawaii (8-0) swept the three road matches. “(On Saturday) Joe kept feeding me balls. It was awesome.”
The connection with Worsley dates back to 2013, when the two played together at Pacific Rim Academy, run by Worsley’s parents, Roger and Christine, in Pleasant Hill, Calif.
There is an agreement that Gasman’s growth has been as much personal as physical, one of maturity on many levels.
“He is bigger and stronger now, but also has a better understanding of the game and the nuances the game provides,” Roger Worsley said. “He’s more in tune with that and able to apply his physical prowess.”
“For sure, our connection has gotten better over the years,” Joe Worsley said. “He’s put a lot of work into his game and it’s changed. He’s more disciplined, is the best blocker on our team and one of the best in the country.
“When he came off the court (after Set 1 on Saturday), he was a part of all the team’s blocks. That’s the kind of impact he can have.”
Worsley and Gasman came in together, but Gasman then broke his right fibula in a skateboarding accident on Oct. 16, 2015. He was projected to be a starter; his debut was delayed until Jan. 5, 2017, in the Outrigger Resorts Invitational.
“He could have helped us but had that unfortunate injury,” Warriors coach Charlie Wade said. “He’s continued to work hard and progress quite a bit. There’s a new level of maturity in his game, a growth all around.”
Gasman also worked himself back into shape, shedding the 40 pounds gained during his redshirt layoff.
Hawaii’s lineup has changed with Gasman no longer next to the 6-1 Worsley in the starting lineup. Instead, the Warriors’ front line consists of the 6-10 Gasman, 6-8 Stijn van Tilburg and 6-9 Rado Parapunov, which has helped lead to a No. 3 ranking nationally at 2.75 blocks per set.
Gasman started his volleyball life in sixth grade at libero. Ten years and 22 inches later, he still loves to play in the back row, something that only happens as long as he holds serve.
While the mechanical engineering major could graduate in May, he will be putting that off in order to return in 2020, adding a minor in business. He likely will add a third all-academic conference honor this spring with a GPA over 3.4.
And then?
“Play professionally until my body gives out,” Gasman. “But the focus is now. I think the team as a whole is more mature than last year.
“I wouldn’t say that I was lazy last year, but I could have done better. This year, I want to take every play like it’s the last one of the match and go as hard as I can.”
