Box Score
HONOLULU – A day after an exhausting five-set, come-from-behind voctory over No. 11 Lewis, the University of Hawai'i Warrior volleyball team could not overcome the efforts of No. 2 UCLA, who took three straight sets to capture their fifth consecutive Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational title.
Hawai'i, who entered the title match hitting a tournament-best .419 as a team, could not muster any extended runs on the Bruins, who outhit the Warriors, .311-to-.248. UCLA middle blocker Chris Pena saved his best effort of the tourney for the final, posting a match-highs in kills (16) and hitting percentage (.625).
The Warriors were in a commanding position to take game one as they entered the final swings of the set with a 29-27 lead. But the Bruins would rally to take the set, 31-29. Hawai'i dropped the set despite out-hitting the Bruins by 55 points and putting-up 6.5 blocks.
Game two saw the Bruins stormed out of the side switch to go-up 5-0 over Hawai'i, who struggled to a .054 team hitting percentage in the set. UCLA took game two 30-18.
The Warriros came-out swinging in the final match of the match and the tournament to hit a blistering .538, with 17 kills and just three hitting errors in 26 swings. But it would not be enough, as UCLA emerged with the straight-set win, with a 30-26 game three margin.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player Jonathan Acosta of UCLA had 14 kills and six digs to finish with 49 kills during the three-day affair.
Hawai'i was led by all-tournament selection Costas Theocharidis, who recorded 12 kills to match freshman outside hitter Jose Delgado for the team match high.
Theocharidis, who led the tournament field in kills (59) and kills per game (5.36), was joined on the all-tournament squad by setter Kimo Tuyay (14.36 assists per game) and senior middle Dejan Miladinovic (1.36 blocks per game, .500 hitting percentage).
UCLA's Matt Komer (3.60 kills per game), Lewis' Gustavo Meyer (52 kills), and Zeliko Koljesar (4.78 kills per game) of Penn State, round out the team selected by coaches and media.
Gm. 1 Gm.2 Gm. 3 No. 1 Penn State (2-2, 1-2 ORI) 30 30 30 No. 11 Lewis (0-3, 0-3 ORI) 20 27 26 The early match of the day saw No. 1 Penn State rebound from consecutive losses to sweep No. 11 Lewis in straight sets, 30-20, 30-27, and 30-26.
Koljesar and Zach Slenker each posted 15 kills to lead the charge. Slenker hit .833, while Koljesar hit at a .619 clip. Lewis was led by Fabiano Barreto's 16 kills.
