Advertiser Staff
For University of Hawai‘i volleyball player Costas Theocharidis, it never hurt so good.
Despite not practicing this year because of injuries, Theocharidis has played well enough in matches to earn a national award.
Yesterday, the American Volleyball Coaches Association/Sports Imports picked Theocharidis as the Division I Player of the Week.
In last week’s Outrigger Hotels Invitational, the 6-foot-3 sophomore outside hitter amassed 14 kills (in 29 swings) in a victory over No. 9 Penn State and 22 kills, 11 digs and seven blocks in a five-game loss to No. 5 UCLA.
Theocharidis did not play in the exhibition against Laval of Quebec because of tendinitis in his right elbow, biceps and shoulder.
UH officials tried to notify Theocharidis of the award at yesterday’s practice. But he was at home with the flu.
SOFTBALL
 Wahine picked second: University of Hawai‘i is picked to finish second in the six-team Western Athletic Conference softball race, according to a poll of conference coaches.
Defending champion Fresno State, picked to finish first, received four first-place votes and one for second for 24 points. The Wahine had two first-place votes and three for second for 22 points.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The Wahine open their season Feb. 2-4 at the South Florida Tournament in Tampa.
Bob Coolen, entering his 10th season as Wahine coach, returns six starters from last year’s 25-24 team, which went 11-9 in the WAC.
Graduation took away the Wahine’s top three hitters in catcher/designated hitter Dana Degen (.401, 9 homers, 36 RBIs), second baseman Mel McGie (.335) and first baseman Joyce Lum (.310).
But the Wahine return pitchers Desiree Duran (11-5, 2.01 ERA), Sheri Oronoz (8-8, 2.82) and Janelle Gonzales (6-10, 3.74).
Also back is shortstop Kate Judd (.293), who tied a school record with five home runs as a freshman last season.
Returning to the outfield are fourth-year starters Kristin Anderson (.213) in center and Tyree Woodruff in right (.305).
Season ticket sales run through Feb. 2. Call 944-2697.
GOLF
Sharing a record: Joey Snyder III of Scottsdale, Ariz., shot a 9-under-par 63 yesterday to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of a Pro Tour Hawai‘i event at the Waikoloa Village Golf Club on the Big Island.
Snyder, paired with Hilo’s Kevin Hayashi, tied the course record set by Hayashi in October at the Waikoloa Open.
Snyder missed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have broken Hayashi’s record.
"I was really hoping he would have broken the record," said Hayashi, who won the tour’s first stop last week at Waimea. "I would like to have seen my own record broken."
Pro Tour Hawai‘i is a series of 10 $100,000 tournaments played throughout the Islands. Golfers from around the world are competing.
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