By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
In a display of bold defiance, the University of Hawai‘i took third-ranked Pepperdine’s best shots — 172, in all — and held on for a 33-31, 27-30, 30-21, 26-30, 15-13 men’s volleyball victory last night in the Stan Sheriff Center.
 |
| Hawai‘i’s Torry Tukuafu slams a kill past Pepperdine’s Keith Barnett in the second game.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser |
"This was big for us," said UH middle blocker Brenton Davis, who was emotionally spent from the endurance test that lasted 2 hours, 27 minutes.
Recent history had not been kind to the fifth-ranked Warriors in five-game matches. In the last three seasons, they are 1-7 in tie-breakers.
But refusing to incriminate themselves in an act of self-destruction, the Warriors gathered after the fourth game and vowed to take the fifth.
"We looked at each other and promised to stay together as a team," Davis said. "We wanted to bond. Win or lose, we were going to finish as a team. We wanted to leave it all on the court, and we did."
Before 4,586 fans, the Warriors jumped to early two-point leads in the fifth game and then regrouped when it was tied at 13.
Davis, receiving a quick set from Kimo Tuyay, rocketed a shot to make it 14-13.
Then Torry Tukuafu, who was benched after erratic play in the third game, was summoned to replace Tuyay as the aloha-ball server.
After a Pepperdine timeout, Tukuafu cued a serve that the Waves scrambled to retrieve. A bad pass led to Fred Winters’ long shot, which triggered a wild UH celebration on the court.
"We’ve always had so much trouble with tie-breakers," UH outside hitter Costas Theocharidis said. "It was important to win this tie-breaker."
Said UH middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic: "We didn’t play great, I have to admit. But this time we got a break from above. We won. That’s what counts."
The Warriors won several pieces that fit together to assemble their 12th victory in 15 matches. They lead the Pacific Division with a 7-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation record.
First, the Warriors rallied from seven four-point deficits, the last at 27-23, to win the first game. "I’m a little disappointed in that," Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy said.
Then, the Warriors were able to put their trust in their block. They floated their serves, daring the Waves to hit against the wall constructed by Miladinovic, Davis, Theocharidis and Tuyay.
While the Waves had their moments — four players had double-digit kills, led by Punahou School graduate Scott Wong’s 23 — but not enough.
"I think we played hard, but not necessarily well," Dunphy said. "The bottom line is, you’re good enough or you’re not. Hawai‘i was. I give (the Warriors) credit. They did not break. More power to them."
Finally, the Warriors were able to consistently turn to Theocharidis, who is the featured hitter in an expanded role. Instead of receiving sets only in the front row, the 6-foot-2 Theocharidis is now being fed at all six of the rotations.
Last night, he tied a career high with 34 kills, powering crossing lasers or pushing shots over the double blocks. Still, he refused to melt his icy exterior, saying the total "doesn’t mean anything. The most important thing is we won."
Pepperdine fell to 12-4 overall and 7-4 in the MPSF’s Mountain Division. The rematch is at 7 tonight.
[back to top] |
