Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. – In what was deemed by UC Irvine officials as the biggest match in the school's men's volleyball program's history, the visiting Warriors handed the top-ranked Anteaters their first loss of the season, riding outstanding performances by Costas Theocharidis and Delano Thomas to a four game victory in their first road match of the season, 30-18, 24-30, 30-18, 30-26, before a spirited crowd of 3,235 at the Bren Events Center.

Hawaii all-time kills leader Theocharidis enjoyed a fine well-rounded effort, putting-down a team-high 20 kills to lead the Warriors, adding eight digs and six blocks. Thomas, playing with a torn ligament in his right thumb, returned to the form he exhibited early in the season, posting his first double-digit kill match in a week and a half. The native of Sacramento, Calif. had 17 kills on a match-high .593 attack percentage for his fifth double-digit outing in seven contests this year.

On the match, Hawaii out hit UCI, .392-to-.237, thanks largely to the 52 assist effort of setter Kimo Tuyay. Tonight marked Tuyay's 5th 50-plus assist performance of the season.

The defending national champion Warriors got-off to a strong start in game one, registering a blistering .667 attack percentage through the contest's first 11 points, prompting UC Irvine head coach John Speraw to call the night's first timeout with Hawaii leading, 7-4. From there the “Men of War” used a tenacious defense and a balanced attack to pull away to a 19-10 lead nearing the home stretch of game one. All-American Theocharidis led the way with six kills in 13 swings. Thomas enjoyed a good first game as well, matching Theocharidis' six kills while committing no errors in eight attempts against Speraw, his U.S. Junior National Team coach last summer. Freshman serving specialist Matt Bender gave the Warriors a strong late kick, helping his squad run off a three point run to take a 28-16 lead. Hawaii out hit UC Irvine, .471-to-.176 in the game.

The top-ranked Anteaters turned the tables early in game two, jumping out to a 15-12 advantage at the mid-point. Junior outside hitter Jimmy Pelzel led the charge, putting-down six quick kills to give UCI the 20-16 lead and drive Hawaii to a timeout. The Warriors and Anteaters exchanged short rallies from there, with UCI evening the match at a game apiece. Theocharidis remained hot for the Warriors, recording six more kills in game two to push his match tally to 12.

Hawaii re-grouped from their .235 attack percentage in game two to run out to a 6-2 lead in game three. Spirited play from freshman Pedro Azenha, who entered late in the second game, sparked the Warriors to a perfect 1.000 kill percentage, forcing the Anteaters into a quick timeout. Azenha finished game three with five kills in six swings. Thomas was the difference in game three, posting four kills with no errors in six attacks while also adding a pair of blocks and a service ace to lead the Warriors. Setter Tuyay quarterbacked the Hawaii offense to an astounding .789 attack percentage, with just one error in 19 attacks.

The fourth game was the tightest played of the match, with Hawaii keeping pace with UC Irvine, despite an attack percentage below .100 through much of the game. Irvine pulled out to its largest lead of the game at 19-16 after trailing the Warriors early on. Hawaii boss Mike Wilton called his first timeout of game four at that point, with the Anteaters out-hitting Hawaii, .333-to-.059. The Warriors pulled to within one point of UCI at 21-20 and finally drew even at 23, taking over the lead at 24-23 on an Irvine attack error. Theocharidis and Thomas took over from there, combining to register five of Hawaii's six points from then.

The Warriors and Anteaters will conclude their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation series tomorrow, with a 5:00 p.m. match scheduled at Crawford Hall on the UCI campus. Warrior fans can tune into the action on 1420 AM KKEA, with Scott Robbs calling the action. Internet listeners can pick-up the broadcast through the Warrior Athletics website at http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu.