Brian Beckwith, Hawai’i’s freshman backup setter, is
returning home this Saturday to face the Bruins in a first-round
MPSF playoff match at Pauley Pavilion. Beckwith was a highly touted
setter out of Loyola High in Los Angeles and seemed to be a likely
candidate to attend UCLA as his mother, Patty Beckwith, is a
dietician in the UCLA nutrition department. But when the signing
period arrived, Beckwith felt he needed to get away from home, and
Hawai’i presented him with a very viable opportunity to do
so. “UCLA was definitely a possibility for me because
it’s so close to home,” Beckwith said. “But I
wanted a change in atmosphere.” Beckwith ended up choosing
Hawai’i because he is a surfing afficionado, and
Hawaii’s abundant beaches as well as its top volleyball
program was very appealing. “He came down to the school and
had a great visit,” Hawai’i coach Mike Wilton said.
“He was very impressed with the volleyball atmosphere on
campus and of course, the beaches.” Beckwith impressed many
at the start of the season, leading the Warriors to a 13-4 record
as the the team’s starter. But during a midseason trip to
USC, Beckwith suffered a throat infection and was forced out of
action for a week. He has since been replaced by Kimo Tuyay in the
starting lineup. Beckwith’s early-season success came as a
surprise, as he was not originally recruited by Hawai’i and
was only invited for a campus visit after an online story printed
that he had interest in playing for Hawai’i. “He would
have been a great fit for our program,” UCLA assistant coach
Brian Rofer said. “But there were obviously things he liked
about Hawai’i better than us, and I’m happy for
him.”
UCLA BOUND FOR OUTRIGGER?: Hawai’i has
announced that it will invite the winner of this year’s MPSF
tournament to its annual Outrigger Hotels Invitational. UCLA was
not invited last year for the first time in the event’s
history, but this new rule presents the opportunity for the Bruins
to return again. “We would love to have UCLA play in next
year’s tournament,” Wilton said. “They are a very
formidable volleyball program and always a big attraction.”
The Bruins won the invitational for five consecutive years from
1998 to 2002.
KLOSTERMAN RETURNS TO LINEUP: Freshman opposite
hitter Steve Klosterman returned to full practice Wednesday and is
expected to start this Saturday against the Warriors.