Box Score

HONOLULU - Senior All-American Costas Theocharidis slammed a match-high 29 kills to lead four Warriors (11-5, 7-5 MPSF) with double-digit kill totals and carry the second-ranked "Men of War" to a four-game upset of top-ranked Pepperdine (13-2, 11-1 MPSF), 30-25, 31-29, 26-30, 30-16, handing the Waves their first league loss of the year.

Theocharidis, who leads Hawaii with nine 20-kill matches this season, took 54 total swings tonight, committing just six errors en route to a .426 attack percentage. The 2001 American Volleyball Coaches Association national Player of the Year helped the Warriors put a stop to Pepperdine's 12 match win streak with his fifth 20-plus kill outing in his last six contests.

Warrior outside hitter Tony Ching enjoyed a fine evening as well, with 19 kills and 11 digs to record his second consecutive double-double effort and his fourth of the season. The 6-foot-2 senior from Honolulu used his 40-inch vertical to sky above the Pepperdine block, hitting .419 in 31 attempts. Ching's kill total fell just two shy of matching his career high of 21, which he set earlier this season Cal State Northridge.

Senior middle blocker Brian Nordberg recorded a personal best 10 kills and a .571 attack percentage to spark Hawaii. The 6-foot-5 Milwaukee, Wisc. native helped the Warriors hit .367 on the contest, as Pepperdine hit just .221.

Delano Thomas added 10 kills and five blocks of his own, attacking at a .444 clip in 18 attempts. The double-digit kill performance was his third in a row, and the ninth of his season.

Hawaii took the one game advantage by pulling-away late after battling point-for-point with the Waves. After running out to a 15-12 lead at the midpoint, the Warriors watched as Pepperdine stormed back to draw even. Theocharidis was the difference down the stretch, posting three kills to spark Hawaii to a four-point run to close-out game one. Following a Sean Rooney kill, Theocharidis and Ching put down back-to-back kills to put Hawaii up, 28-25. Theocharidis then earned a kill when he got his arms under a Pepperdine kill attempt and sent it just over the net and onto the court in front of a number of Waves. He put the finishing touch on the set with a cross court roll shot onto the open floor. Theocharidis lead all attackers with seven kills, committing only one error in 13 swings for a .462 attack percentage. Fellow seniors Ching and Nordberg were hot as well, recording five and four kills, respectively. Hawaii out hit Pepperdine, .421 to .211 in the frame.

Game two was another tightly played affair, as the Warriors and Waves proved resilient. Hawaii pulled off to an 18-15 lead on a Thomas kill, prompting Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy to signal for a timeout. The Waves roared out of the break, running off six consecutive points to seize the momentum and the 20-18 lead. The Warriors put together a three-point run of their own late in the game to catch the Waves at 26 apiece. After exchanging points again, Hawaii sealed the second game with kills by Thomas and Theocharidis, winning 31-29.

Pepperdine took game three as Hawaii struggled to a .139 attack percentage with 12 kills and seven errors in 36 total swings. Theocharidis remaine hot for the "Men of War," adding six more kills to his total. Pepperdine didn't hit extremely well either, posting a .261 attack percentage with 19 kills and seven errors in 46 total attempts.

Theocharidis led a rejuvenated Warrior squad with 11 kills in 17 swings, as Hawaii ran away with game four, downing the Waves by 16 points. Theocharidis carried the vast ajority of the attacking load, as the Warriors hit a match-high .567, with 20 kills and just three errors. Hawaii overwhelmed Pepperdine with a four-point run and four, three-point runs. The Warriors will continue their season with a pair of non-conference matches versus Loyola-Chicago on Mar. 5 and 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center.