Two weeks into the 2007 season, the University of Hawai'i volleyball team is undergoing a makeover.

Illness and inconsistency are necessitating changes to the starting lineup.

Lauri Hakala, if healthy, is moving from opposite attacker to one of the two outside positions on the left side.

Jim Clar is slightly ahead of Steven Grgas in the competition to replace Hakala at opposite, a position that attacks mostly on the right side.

Eric Kalima is moving from left-side attacker to libero, a defensive position that is not allowed to attack or block.

Jacob Schkud and Matt Vanzant are competing to replace Kalima on the left side. If Hakala is unavailable, Schkud and Vanzant would both start.

"I think we're going to be a good team," said coach Mike Wilton, whose team faces Pacific tomorrow and Friday. "It's going to take a little time."

The top concern is the health of Hakala, one of two captains. He has been weakened by flu-like symptoms for three weeks.

Hakala underwent medical tests yesterday. He did not practice. It would be costly if Hakala is not available for an extended period. In UH's scheme, the libero and the two left-side hitters are primary passers.

"The way people serve these days, it's good to have three guys who can pass," Wilton said.

Wilton said there are no immediate plans to move Kalima, the other captain, back to left-side hitter.

"Kalima is good in there (at libero)," Wilton said. "He brings a lot to the court, and some experience we definitely need. He's been slowed a little bit by tendinitis, but this is a move we wanted to pursue."

Kalima, who was a defensive specialist at Kamehameha Schools and a libero during his first two seasons at UH, did not hesitate in making the move.

"Whatever I can do to help the team," Kalima said.

Even at libero, Kalima will not wear knee pads. "They don't feel right," he said. "I've never really worn them."

The key to making sprawling digs, Kalima said, "is to slide on my chest."

Clar and Grgas are opposites who are opposites. Clar is 6 feet 2; Grgas is 6-7.

"Jimbo jumps well," said Wilton, quelling concerns about Clar's blocking abilities.

NCAA opposite attackers usually are at least 6-4. The height of the net is 7-11fi, but Clar can touch 11-4.

"If you can make the reads and get over (the net), that's the key," Wilton said.

Clar said he played on the right side at Churchville-Chili High School in Rochester, N.Y.

"It's not too uncomfortable for me," said Clar, whose last name is pronounced Clare. "I kind of like it."

Schkud said he has fully recovered from flu-like symptoms. He started in the first of two exhibition matches against British Columbia two weeks ago. But he became ill that night, and did not play in the rematch. Although he resumed practicing last week Tuesday, he was not included on the 13-player travel roster for last week's matches against top-ranked UC Irvine.

Vanzant, a second-year freshman, has improved enough as a passer to earn consideration on the left side. Against Irvine, Wilton said, "Vanzant showed some promise. He's going to be a steady passer. He's getting better at it."

Vanzant was admittedly nervous playing his first NCAA match in front of Irvine's heckling student section. Because of Vanzant's resemblance to Ben Savage's character in "Boy Meets World," the Irvine students chanted "Cory Matthews ... Cory Matthews" every time he served.

"It's funny," Vanzant said. "This summer I worked this camp, and this kid from UCLA had really curly hair. I always called him that. I guess what goes around comes around."

Of the restructured lineup, All-America setter Brian Beckwith said: "We'll have to continue to work with all of these young new players who are finding court time. It's going to take patience. We're not going to be able to leap toward a championship. We're going to have to take a lot of baby steps."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.