The Hawai'i volleyball team received another setback when left-side hitter Gus Tuaniga suffered a possible hyper-extension of his left (not-swinging) elbow.

Tuaniga, a freshman from Hemet, Calif., was injured during Monday's practice. He was seen with his left arm in a sling yesterday. He did not participate in yesterday's 2-hour practice.

The injury is significant because Tuaniga is considered to be the Warriors' best passer among the outside hitters.

For tomorrow's match against UC Santa Barbara, "I've got him written in the 'hurt' column," UH head coach Mike Wilton said.

That leaves the Warriors without two of their most accurate passers. Steven Hunt, another freshman left-side hitter, will miss at least another week because of a fracture in his right (hitting) hand.

"It's not good," Wilton said of the injury situation, "but it is what it is."

Josh Walker and Sean Carney, who was moved from setter last week, are expected to be the starting left-side hitters. Steven Grgas, who has played all but two sets at middle blocker, and Brennon Dyer will split time at opposite attacker.

In fall camp and through the first week of the season, the Warriors crafted a special offense that allowed Walker to hit three times from the front left, twice from the back right and once from the back middle. It was the same scheme the Warriors used with Costas Theocharidis, the NCAA's career kill leader during the rally-scoring era.

But Walker has not felt at ease hitting the D set — back right — and with the injuries, he will play the traditional left-side role, which will require him to pass.

"I'm working on the passing," Walker said. "I can do all of the reps I want, but if don't believe in myself, it's not going to happen."

With help from associate coach Tino Reyes, Walker also is learning to expand his menu of spikes, including using a top spin on down-the-line shots.

Carney also is working to improve the accuracy of his passes.

"It's obviously more of a finesse skill than hitting," Carney said. "Every day in practice I'm feeling more comfortable with the position."

Reyes said of Carney: "To be fair with him, he's only been (playing outside hitter) for two weeks."

Grgas has had less time to adapt. In the past Saturday's match against Stanford, he started the first set at middle blocker then moved to opposite attacker for the final two sets.

Grgas, like Carney, is learning to pace himself.

"I haven't learned where to conserve my energy and where to exert it the most," Grgas said. "I have to figure out a certain process. I think I'll figure it out in time."

In 2006 and 2007, in-season injuries forced UH lineup changes.

"It seems that's been the pattern for the last couple of years," Carney said. "Key people have been going down. ... This is going to represent another challenge. We have to step it up. We have to win these matches (against Santa Barbara). We've had a lot of injuries. It's unfortunate. But we have to keep working hard."