At least that's the plan for the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team this season. The third-ranked Rainbows open tomorrow night against UC San Diego without one of the best-ever collegiate players, but with a resolve to prove that Hawaii volleyball did not die when Yuval Katz turned professional seven months ago.
"We're much more diverse compared to last year," said UH senior captain Aaron Wilton. "Most of the teams we'll face will be taller than us, so we're going to have to use our quickness as compared to our size. Overall, I think this team is better than last year.
"We're a little angry that people are saying we couldn't win with Yuval so how can we win without him. Sure, he took a big chunk of our offense with him when he left, but the rest of us are back here to make a statement."
Which translates into speaking softly behind the setting of senior Curt Vaughan, and carrying some big arm swings. After sitting and setting behind All-American Erik Pichel for 11/2 seasons, Vaughan has the task of making the Rainbows' blur of an offense run.
"This year the offense is going to be very exciting," said Vaughan, who is perhaps better known for his outrageously dyed hair. "But because it is so quick and complicated, the people watching will have to be patient. Give us some time to get our offense running smoothly."
While there is concern that the Rainbows have yet to find a go-to guy who could bail them out of impossible situations, a la Katz, there's almost a sense of relief that this is a team that will not live or die on the swing of one player.
"Last year, people were having to hit beneath Yuval," said Vaughan. "The other players didn't have a real chance to show off their abilities because they knew the ball was going to Yuval."
Hawaii is expected to start senior Jason Ring and junior Sivan Leoni in the middle with Wilton and junior Naveh Milo on the outside. Vaughan will run the offense. Freshman Clayton Stanley, at 6-9, is starting at opposite, the position Katz played.
Tomorrow and Friday: Hawaii vs. UCSan Diego, 7 p.m.