Imagine a vegetarian owning a barbecue restaurant.

It is unlikely as a libero — a volleyball position that is prohibited from spiking or blocking — being a team's serving specialist.

But Hawai'i's Mike China (pronounced Chee-na) has that rare dual role.

Associate head coach Tino Reyes said China is the first Warrior defensive specialist to be used as the primary pinch-server.

It is a beneficial — but unlikely — meshing of skills. The pinch-server usually replaces the middle blocker, often the weakest back-row defender. China, as a pinch-server, transitions into a defender.

The thing is, the libero rarely gets to demonstrate his serving talents, even in practices. But because of injuries and other circumstances, China, the top backup to libero Ric Cervantes, was used as an outside hitter during fall practices.

In scrimmages, head coach Mike Wilton noted, China "showed good consistency."

Reyes said: "He's behind Cervantes (as a libero), so instead of wasting him, we decided to let him serve. He can serve as good or better than the middles."

China has a wide menu of serves. He has a jump serve that has been clocked at more than 60 mph. He can hit a jump float that is difficult to pass. He also has a biting spin-serve that can break sharply to the left, like a curveball, or flex to the right, like a screwball.

"The main thing is he's a good athlete with a good arm," Reyes said.

The proof is in the numbers. The Warriors have scored on nine of his 21 serves, or 42.9 percent. The goal is a 35-percent success rate.

China, whose Warriors host Cal State Northridge tomorrow and Saturday, has flourished as a reliever who does not get to warmup.

"You have to anticipate when the coach will put you in," said China, who tries to keep warm by playing pepper during timeouts.

China said being a pinch-server requires "a little more mental than physical preparation. ... You're only going in there for, hopefully, more than one serve."

His secret?

"If I think too much, that's when I get into trouble," China said. "If I think, 'I have to put it in,' it adds pressure on myself."

Reyes said: "There are things you need for the job. You can have speed (on the serve), which he does. You can have placement. He has a good placement shot. He can serve the short ball and the long ball. He can curl it."