Hawai'i's Theocharidis best of all

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

UH's Costas Theocharidis overcame tendinitis in his right arm to average 5.04 kills per game. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

The American Volleyball Coaches Association yesterday named Theocharidis as the national Player of the Year. Theocharidis, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Greece, averaged 5.04 kills per game, ranking fifth nationally, and finishing with a .340 hitting percentage.

"It's kind of nice, but it's just an award," he told The Advertiser last night. "You celebrate for one day. Now it gives me extra motivation to train for next year."

Theocharidis was the only Warrior named to the AVCA's first team. UH middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic was selected to the second team.

Theocharidis, whose shots have been clocked at 65 mph, did not receive any scholarship offers after graduating from Second High School in Orestiada, a Greek city with a population of 20,000.

Then, after a chance meeting with Mike Lambert, a U.S. Olympian and former Punahou School standout, it was suggested that Theocharidis contact Wilton. Theocharidis sent a videotape.

Wilton recalled that "the videotape (Theocharidis) sent was almost a nightmare to watch. It was, 'Which one are you?' He wore different numbers and played different positions. At first, we didn't know which side of the net he was on. But once we figured it out, we realized, 'He's pretty good.'"

Before sending the videotape, Theocharidis recalled, he had never heard of Hawai'i and had difficulty finding it on a map.

But it did not take long for the blind date to turn into a romance. Theocharidis said he quickly embraced the Islands and, in turn, he became a fan favorite. Despite suffering from tendinitis in his right arm this season, Theocharidis was the team's go-to player, receiving sets at every rotation.

"He's a gifted outside hitter, no question," Wilton said. "Even last year, I thought he was the best outside hitter in the country. He's a gifted student, too, and a great person. He's a warrior. He's a real important guy to our team. He's really deserving of this honor."

But Theocharidis, who attended the NCAA final four banquet in Long Beach, Calif., last night, said, "Seeing the other teams here, I felt depressed, frustrated. It's nice to win an award, but I want us to win a championship."

Wilton also said Miladinovic, a junior, was instrumental in the Warriors reaching the championship match of the conference tournament and attaining the country's top ranking for two weeks.

The 6-foot-7 Miladinovic did not play last season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder. This year, he led the nation with a 1.97 blocking average.