Yuval "Yuvi" Katz, the University of Hawaii's two-time All-American, makes his four-man beach volleyball debut tomorrow in the $1,800 Bud Light Hawaii State Championship at Queen's Surf Beach. He and former Rainbows Erik Pichel, Masui Allen and Sean Scott are seeded second among some 14 foursomes that open pool play at 9:30 a.m.

"I think our team is real solid," said Allen, who expects to be the main passer and the attacker on the combination plays. "It's a different game from being indoors and even (beach) doubles. With the four-man, you need a good setter and everyone's got to be able to bang away against two blockers.

"I like the way Pichel sets, Sean gives us a good middle attack and Yuval will be on the left side. And, if we get in trouble, we can always set Yuvi."

That strategy worked for the Rainbows most of the past season where, after being ranked No. 1 for all but the final week, they finished second in the country behind the record-setting Katz. The transition from indoor to beach could present problems for the relative rookie team against some of the veteran sand players in the state.

The top-seeded foursome features Jon Andersen, winner of numerous beach doubles events over the past two decades, along with Marc Haine, Stevie Li and Josh Helbling. Seeded third is the team of Pono Maa, Kanoa Ostrem, Keoki Shupe and Jason Hodell.

"Four-man is a fun format; the action is more continuous than in doubles," said Haine, captain of the winning team at the Waikoloa Dolphin Day Four-Man Tournament last year. "You can run plays, and it's a little more like indoor six-man, with a lot more balls being kept in play."

"This should be a pretty exciting tournament," said Chuck Monson, head of the sponsoring Hawaii Beach Volleyball Association. "We've never done a four-man event here, and we're looking forward to seeing how it will go."

Pool play begins on three courts at 9:30 a.m., followed by a single-elimination championship round. The one-game matches are to 15. The title match is expected to start between 4 and 5 p.m.

Late entries will be accepted until 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. The fee is $10.

Tomorrow: 9:30 a.m. pool play, 2 p.m. semifinals, 4 p.m. championship.
Where: Queen's Surf Beach, Waikiki.
Late entries: $10 by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
Information: Chuck Monson, 373-1558.