Box Score

HONOLULU -On a night that they were honored with a national championship banner in a pre-match ceremony, the Warrior Volleyball team gave it their best but came-up short in the title contest of the 9th Annual Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational, falling, 30-27, 30-19, 30-27, to a hot-hitting Shanghai Oriental squad that played its best match in the tournament finale.

The Warriors and Shanghai both came out swinging in the first game, posting team attack percentages over .400 in the frame. Shanghai was led by all-tournament pick Tang Miao and tournament Most Valuable Player Shen Qiong, who combined for 12 kills in 17 swings in game one. Hawai'i took an early lead in game one behind the efforts of Costas Theocharidis and Tony Ching, who ripped-off four kills apiece. The Warriors led 11-7 near the midway point, but could not hold-off the powerful squad from China.

Shanghai, who started five Chinese National Team members, let loose in the second game, hitting .792, with 19 kills and no errors in 24 attempts. Qiong led Shanghai, with a game-high six kills in seven swings. Fellow all-tournament pick Wang ZhiTeng added four kills in five attempts.

Hawai'i lost 30-27 in the third game, but made a few late charges to push Shanghai, who exhibited the ablility to pull away at times when the Warriors seemed to be gaining momentum. The visitors from the Far East outhit the hosts, .429 to .222 in game three, thanks in part to six more kills in eight attempts from Qiong to spark Shanghai. Qiong finished the evening with a match-high .714 attack percentage along with 16 kills.

Miao led all players with 19 kills in 27 attempts, while ZhiTeng added 11 more. Shanghai setter He Jiong also earned a nod onto the all-tournament squad by dishing-out a match-high 47 assists, while leading Shanghai to a .523 attack percentage.

Greek National Team member Theocharidis put down 10 kills to become the Outrigger Invitational's first, four-time all-tournament selection. He was joined on the all-tournament team by teammate Delano Thomas, who averaged over 10 kills per match during the Invitational.

Tonight's match will not count on Hawai'i's official record. The contest will be recorded as an exhibition.

9th Annual Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Invitational All-Tournament Team:

Costas Theocharidis (Hawai'i); Delano Thomas (Hawai'i); Tang Miao (Shanghai Oriental); Wang ZhiTeng (Shanghai Oriental); He Jiong (Shanghai Oriental); Josh Zudeima (Ball State).

Most Valuable Player: Shen Qiong (Shanghai Oriental)