Box Score

HONOLULU – The national champion Warriors (16-5, 10-5 MPSF) endured the absence of reigning AVCA National Player of the Week Tony Ching to defeat sixth-ranked Pacific (13-9, 8-6 MPSF), 30-16, 24-30, 30-16, 30-26, riding Kimo Tuyay's setting and a match-high 20 kills from All-American Costas Theocharidis tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Tuyay, a junior from San Diego, Calif., enjoyed his 14th, 50-assist outing of the season, leading the hot-hitting “Men of War” to a .386 team hitting percentage. With Tuyay at the reigns of the Hawaii attack, four Warriors recorded double-digit kill totals, led by Theocharidis' 15th 20-kill showing of the year. Pedro Azenha had 15, while Eyal Zimet and Delano Thomas recorded 10 apiece.

Thomas' performance was complemented by fellow middle blocker Brian Nordberg's effort. The 6-foot-5 senior from Milwaukee, Wisc. Added eight kills on 13 attempts to hit .538 on the match. Junior libero Jake Muise was credited with 11 digs, to record his second consecutive double-digit dig match.

Ching, who was out with flu-like symptoms, was replaced in the starting rotation by freshman Azenha. The native of Sao Paolo, Brazil responded with his fourth double-digit kill effort in as many starts this season, putting-down 15 with just four errors in 24 swings to record a .417 attack percentage.

Hawaii and Pacific swapped enormous late runs to split games one and two. The Warriors took the opening set, thanks largely to a six-point run to close-out the 30-16 rout. The first game wasn't very close after the Warriors used a four-point run to move out to a 9-5 lead. From there Hawaii pulled away, leading 15-8 at the media timeout, and 20-12, shortly after.

With the “Men of War” leading 23-15, three Pacific attack errors and an Eyal Zimet kill staked the Warriors to 12-point lead. A Delano Thomas service ace sandwiched by a pair of Tiger errors and UOP's sixth service error of the game completed the rally and the frame.

Pacific was held to a .107 attack percentage in the first game, committing seven errors with just 10 kills in 28 swings. The Warriors hit .3664, led by five kills from Azenha and four more from fellow senior Theocharidis.

UOP responded with a late run of their own in game two to even the match at one apiece. The Warriors and Tigers battled point for point during much of the early going before the visitors from northern California put together a impressive rally. Pacific even the match at 22-22, prompting Warrior boss Mike Wilton to call a timeout. The Tigers stormed out of the break to run-off a six-point run to close-out the game, just as Hawaii did in game one.

Pacific slugged to the tune of a .469 attack percentage, over .300 points better than their pace in game one. Theocharidis and Thomas led the Warriors with four kills apiece.

The Warriors came back to life to take game three behind a combined 13 kills from Theocharidis and middle blocker Nordberg, posting a .577 team attack percentage. Hawaii worked its way out to a 13-7 advantage before putting together a four-point rally to extend to a 10-point advantage. From there the Warriors and Tigers exchanged shots for 10 points, leading up to another Warrior four point barrage, sparked by two kills and an ace by Thomas. Both squads hit well in game four, with the hosts out-hitting Pacific, .344-to-.343, as the Warriors improved their league mark to 10-5.

Hawaii and Pacific will conclude their MPSF series tomorrow night with another contest scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.