Thunder can now be visualized.

It is 6 feet 9, with the capability of scaling towering blocks and launching a volleyball serve at up to 70 mph.

Pepperdine's Paul Carroll is the self-styled "Thunder from Down Under," a left-handed opposite attacker who was named Australia's best volleyball player. Last season, Carroll led the NCAA in kills (6.54 per game) and points (7.56 per game).

"It's no secret, lots of balls go to Paul Carroll," said coach Marv Dunphy, whose Waves play Hawai'i tonight in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener. The rematch is tomorrow night.

In a match against UH last April, Carroll had season highs in hitting percentage (.543), aces (five) and blocks (eight).

"He's definitely a great server and a great attacker," UH libero Ric Cervantes said. "It's going to be challenging. But if you don't like a challenge, you shouldn't be playing sports."

The Warriors (1-2) might start as many as three freshmen. Two true rookies — left-side hitter Steven Hunt and opposite attacker Gus Tuaniga — will make their fourth consecutive starts. There is a possibility that second-year freshman Jarrod Lofy will start in place of middle blocker Matt "Dragon" Rawson, who has a subluxed left (non-swinging) shoulder.

Last week, Rawson was lifted in the second sets of the first two matches against Ohio State and Southern California, and he did not play against top-ranked Penn State.

But Rawson practiced the past two days, and his availability will be decided today.

"He doesn't hit with that (left) arm, so that's a good thing," UH head coach Mike Wilton said. "We'll see what happens."

Athletic trainer Brian Wong used a spica procedure — in which an Ace bandage is heavily wrapped around the shoulder and secured to the back — to stabilize Rawson's injury.

"I'm a little sore when I block and stuff, but other than that, hitting-wise, I'm OK," Rawson said.

Rawson did not participate in fall drills while recuperating from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. He did not have surgery on his left shoulder.

If Rawson is not available, then Lofy will join Steven Grgas as a middle blocker.

"I've always felt I would be in this position starting out the year," Lofy said. "I always felt (Rawson would) come back and take that position back from me. Now that he's out again, I'm not sure how it's going to work. I've always been prepared for whatever comes to me. I hope that I work hard enough to be good enough."

Because left-side hitter Joshua Walker has a sliver of passing responsibilities, Tuaniga and Hunt will need to complement Cervantes' passing. Wilton said both freshmen had incurred flashes of anxiousness in their debuts last week.

"They need to get a little more comfortable out there on the old home court," Wilton said.

Tuaniga said the opening-night butterflies have been released. During one play in the opener against Ohio State, Tuaniga recalled thinking, "This is my job. I can do this."

After that, he said, "Everything went away. I just played my game."

Hunt said he also "felt fine after a few points."

Cervantes said he has tried to create a supportive atmosphere.

"They're coming along," Cervantes said. "They still need to work on their technique. It's expected. It's only been a semester. I think they'll keep progressing.

"It's definitely going to be a huge learning curve," Cervantes added. "But I think they can handle it. I'm going to keep working with them, keep giving them advice, and stay patient with them. You break down a young team from the get-go, it's not going to help anybody. You have to be patient with the team."

The past three days, the UH coaches have emphasized serving and passing. Monday and Tuesday, the Warriors were required to serve to specific areas. They were given velocity goals.

Setter Sean Carney led the way with a jump serve that reached 65 mph. Tuaniga's jump serve registered 64 mph. Lofy topped at 37 mph, which was acceptable for a float serve. A floater is the equivalent of baseball's knuckleball pitch.

"It's not just getting the serve in, it's getting it into a specific area," Lofy said. "On a float serve, you want it to move around between two people so it causes confusion. I've been working on it. I hope to be able to get it up to 40-45 (mph) consistently — and in the court."

Cervantes said: "If we pass well and if we serve well, I really think we're a great team. But we have to be consistent in both aspects."

The Waves, who arrived in town yesterday afternoon and practiced last night, also are seeking stability in the serve-receive phase. Jonathan Winder, their starting setter the previous three seasons, has completed his NCAA eligibility. Outside hitter JD. Schleppenbach, who is an accurate passer and scrappy defender, suffered a 9-millimeter labrum tear in his right (hitting) shoulder. He underwent season-ending surgery.

"J.D.'s a really good volleyball player," Dunphy said. "We miss him a lot. He has a lot of experience. He's a volleyball rat. He knows the game real well, and he plays it real well."

Matt McKee, Cory Riecks, Brent Schirripa and Sean Pedersen "are all in the mix" at outside hitter, Dunphy said. There also is inexperience in the middle.

"Every team has its own identity," Dunphy said. "It's kind of a new team for us. We're not meeting a lot of the standards that we know we have to meet. I have to earn my money."