Warriors reflect on championship season

Advertiser Staff

Dejan Miladinovic
Middle blocker
6-7, senior
Kraljevo, Serbia

"I'll never forget hearing that last whistle. When Costas spiked the ball, yeah, I can't describe the feeling. That was the moment I'll never forget. That was — what's the word? — the diamond of my collegiate career. I'm still enjoying it. I wake up everyday and I'm still stoked."

• • •

Geronimo Chala
Middle blocker
6-7, junior
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

"It was great to win the championship, but I have other good memories, too. . . A great memory was when assistant coach Aaron Wilton came late to practice. Coach (Mike) Wilton made him dive on the floor for balls. It's nice when father and son can bond. That was pretty funny."

• • •

Rob Drew
Middle blocker
6-8, senior
Honolulu

"Drew has missed the past two seasons after undergoing surgery to remove his large intestine because of colitis. Drew successfully petitioned the NCAA for a medical hardship — a moot point, perhaps, because his eligibility might already have expired. He is filing another appeal.

• • •

Kimo Tuyay
Setter
6-2, sophomore
San Diego

"It wasn't so much the winning, it was the combination of everything. We worked so hard to win a national championship. I'm proud of the way we practiced and played. When we finally won, it was too much. I can't really describe the emotion."

• • •

Jake Muise
Libero
6-0, sophomore
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

"My most memorable moment was right before the final, when we were getting ready in the locker room. There was an air that we didn't care who we were playing. Everybody looked around, and we knew we were going to win. That's all the confidence we needed. The look each of us had."

• • •

Eyal Zimet
Outside hitter
6-2, junior
Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz, Israel

"It's been a week, and I still feel like bursting inside. It's a dream come true. It's the best thing that could happen to me right now. We're like brothers to each other. This is a family championship."

• • •

Vernon Podlewski
Libero
5-8, senior
Hali'imaile

"At the NCAA final four, Podlewski's name was not announced during the introductions of the starting lineup -- a snub that served as motivation. By the the time the Warriors were crowned as national champions, UH coach Mike Wilton said, everybody knew Podlewski's name.

• • •

Jeffrey Gleason
Outside hitter
6-3, junior
Hillsboro, Ore.

"It was an amazing feeling to win the championship, even though I was at Player's, with four or five of the guys who didn't get to go to Penn State. Still, it was an unbelievable moment."

• • •

Costas Theocharidis
Outside hitter
6-2, junior
Orestiada, Greece

"I'll never forget when we started celebrating after the last point. After I hit the match point, I went blank. I didn't know what to do. I started running around, and some people started running after me, trying to catch up. It was great, man. You hit the last point, and it's such a great relief. It was three years of hard work, and the time finally came."

• • •

Jose Delgado
Outside hitter
6-3, freshman
San Juan, Puerto Rico

"Looking back, I'll remember all of my teammates — my friends. I've enjoyed my time in Hawai'i. I'm a freshman, but I feel like I've achieved all of my goals. It's amazing. It's incredible."

• • •

Kyle Denitz
Setter
6-1, junior
Carpinteria, Calif.

"I'll never forget all of the functions — the things that made us a team not only on the court, but off the court, as well. Those times really made us become good friends. I didn't get to play, and that was a little frustrating. But I consider myself to be a team player. If the team is doing well and playing well, that makes me happy. I want to make a positive impact."

• • •

Marvin Yamada
Defensive specialist
5-8, sophomore
Barrigada Hts., Guam

"Watching the telecast at Player's, when they won it all, that was unbelievable. It was the best moment of my life, and I wasn't even playing."

• • •

Matt Bender
Outside hitter
6-3, freshman
Tucson, Ariz.

"It was so much fun to watch the game, and then watch Costas run around like an idiot afterwards. That was definitely the best part of it."

• • •

Ryan Woodward
Outside hitter
6-3, junior
Mililani

"It's been so much fun just being there every day, watching these guys practice, seeing how well we came together as a team. It's been one big feeling I get from it, and it's amazing to be part of this season."

• • •

Tony Ching
Outside hitter
6-1, junior
Honolulu

"Know what meant the most to me? It was after we won, and I saw my mom and dad's faces. That meant a lot."

• • •

Brian Nordberg
Middle blocker
6-5, junior
Milwaukee, Wis.

"Winning a title was great, of course, but another good memory was going on a road trip to NorCal sporting my mullet. It's a haircut that's business in front, party in back. It's white trash. But if I might say so myself, I wear it rather well."

• • •

Delano Thomas
Middle blocker
6-7, freshman
Sacramento, Calif.

"After we won the championship, I kind of stood there for a little bit. Then I started jumping up and down and yelling. I didn't know what to do. I've never had a thrill like that before."

• • •

Daniel Rasay
Setter
6-2, freshman
Kailua, Kona

"Winning the national championship, of course, was the best moment. But I got to play in the semifinal match, and that was probably the biggest match of my career. It was great to come back to Hawai'i. It was crazy at the airport. I expected there to be people, but I didn't think there would be that great of a welcome. Everything has been overwhelming."

• • •

Brennan Velasco
Setter
5-10, junior
Pearl City

"I'm grateful to be part of this team, especially because I came in so late. I wasn't expecting any of this. I don't think anybody was. One day I'm practicing, the next I'm at the governor's house. It's crazy."

• • •

Tino Reyes
Assistant coach

"I'll never forget match point. I kept thinking, 'Costas, please kill it.' After that, Coach and I hugged. It was the first time we won a national championship. I'll always remember the journey along the way. We got to know the players a little better. That was more important.

• • •

Mike Wilton
Head coach

"The good times just keep coming. It's a kaleidoscope. All of these great celebrations ... all I can say is, where else but in Hawai'i?"