Box Score
MALIBU, Calif. – The University of Hawaii Warrior volleyball squad seized control of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship match early, but could maintain its momentum, falling to host and top-ranked Pepperdine in the league title tilt, 24-30, 30-25, 30-25, 30-27, before a crowd of 2,589 at Firestone Fieldhouse on the Waves' campus.
Senior All-American middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic put forth a valiant effort, with nine kills and no errors for a .500 hitting percentage while also recording a team-high eight block assists on the evening. Miladinovic's partner at the net, Delano Thomas, had 10 kills on a .381 hitting percentage with four total blocks. The pair of 6-foot-7 talents were the only two starters on either team to hit over the .300 mark, in a contest which featured 54 total attack errors ad 31 total blocks.
2001 American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year Costas Theocharidis put down a team-high 17 kills on 44 swings against the Waves. The Orestiada, Greece native totaled 38 kills during the MPSF semifinals and finals but could not lift Hawaii to the conference crown.
The first set of the evening moved at a frenetic pace, as Hawaii ripped-through to a game one victory in under 20 minutes. The hot pace of the set was pushed by the hot-hitting of Warrior All-American outside hitter Costas Theocharidis, who slammed down eight kills with no errors in 14 swings to post a .571 hitting percentage.
After falling behind, 3-0 out of the gates, the Warriors quickly rallied behind solid setting by sophomore setter Kimo Tuyay and a stubborn block that helped Hawaii out-block the Waves, 4.5 to 2.5. Tuyay recorded 17 assists in directing the Warrior attack to a .528 team attack percentage in the set. Hawaii's block was sparked by national blocking average leader Miladinovic, Tuyay, and junior outside hitter Tony Ching, who registered two block assists apiece.
In the second set, the Warriors lost the considerable momentum they built at the end of game one, falling behind 6-1, with a series of misplays. Hawaii rallied to pull to within three points at 14-17, prompting Pepperdine head coach Marv Dunphy to call a timeout. When play resumed the Waves put together a run of their own to extend their lead to 22-15, forcing Hawaii coach Mike Wilton to call a timeout of his own.
Warrior freshman Thomas then carried his team on his back for three consecutive points, recording a pair of kills on two Pepperdine over passes and then a double-block with Ching to pull Hawaii to within four. The Warriors mustered one last rally in game two to close the gap to 25-28, but could not overcome their early woes. Neither team hit well in the second set, with Pepperdine out-hitting Hawaii, .156 to .034.
Hawaii worked its way into a 9-6 lead early in the third set only to see Pepperdine storm back and take a 21-16 advantage late in the set. Warrior reserves Daniel Rasay and Jose Delgado were brought in during the set, which Hawaii dropped, 25-30. Pepperdine hit .289 in the set, while Hawaii hit .194 as a team.
The Waves clinched the victory and their fourth overall MPSF title in the fourth set, despite hitting just .067 as a team. Hawaii hit .083 in the final set, recording 13 kills and 10 attack errors in 36 swings. The Warriors dropped the set, 30-27, despite a combined nine kills from Miladinovic and Thomas.
Hawaii will remain in California tonight to await word on whether they will receive the lone at-large bid into the NCAA Final Four. The second-ranked Warriors are considered to have a strong chance to be named the at-large team after finishing second both in the MPSF regular season and the conference championship tournament. The NCAA selection committee is scheduled to begin at noon Pacific time.
Should the Warriors be picked for the Final Four, those matches will be broadcast back to the 50th state on KCCN (1420 AM). Internet listeners can access the broadcasts by Scott Robbs through the UH Athletics website, at http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu.
