UH volleyball team could make White House visit
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
There is, of course, a "W" in "Win."
The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team, which won the 2002 NCAA Championships earlier this month, is working out details to meet with President George W. Bush this fall at the White House.
"I think that would be a fabulous trip," UH coach Mike Wilton said.
Bush has started a tradition of meeting with NCAA champions. The champions of spring sports are expected to be invited en masse in the fall.
Yesterday, Bush honored four college championship teams at a White House ceremony.
Bush welcomed Connecticut's women's basketball team, Maryland's men's basketball team, Minnesota's men's hockey team and Minnesota-Duluth's women's hockey team.
"For sure, we'd like to pursue it," said Wilton, noting the team's sports information director, Brendan Sagara, has started preliminary work on the matter.
As part of the ceremony, invited teams usually bring a jersey imprinted with Bush's name.
"That's an easy one," Wilton said. "We have some blank jerseys. I wonder if he wants us to spell D-U-B-Y-A on the back."
There is expected to be one notable absence if the ceremony is staged in the fall. All-America outside hitter Costas Theocharidis might remain with the Greek national team through the fall semester. Theocharidis, who was raised in Greece, leaves next month for summer training camp.
If the NCAA approves, Theocharidis would remain with the Greek team in the fall and rejoin the Warriors in January for the start of his senior season. Wilton said Theocharidis is an honor student whose eligibility would not be affected by missing a semester of school.
Wilton said middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic, one of two seniors on the championship team, is close to signing with a professional team in Bulgaria.
Middle blocker Delano Thomas, who completed his freshman season, will attend the first session of summer school before competing with the U.S. Junior National team in July.
Middle blocker Josh Stanhiser will play for a Christian basketball team in Shanghai this summer. The 6-foot-10 Stanhiser was a redshirt on the UH men's basketball team last season. Last week, he signed a scholarship agreement with the Warriors' volleyball team. Wilton said Stanhiser will compete for a starting job next season.
