Warriors sweep of USC lights up Senior Night
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Who says Men of War don't cry?
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
It probably was somebody who could not imagine that Mike Wilton, the famously stoic University of Hawai'i volleyball coach, would shake his groove thing in a riveting haka before 6,212 fans in the Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawai'i's Costas Theocharidis, one of four seniors, was overcome by emotion as a Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 6,212 helped celebrate Senior Night.
But in last night's celebration following the Warriors' regular-season finale — a 32-30, 30-23, 30-22 victory over Southern California — the unthinkable became a reality.
"I'm an honorary Sole," said Wilton, an ex-Marine who got the farewell party started for seniors Costas Theocharidis, Tony Ching, Eyal Zimet and Brian Nordberg.
Later, with smoke in his eyes, Wilton said, "It was pretty special. This is a special group of guys and a pretty special celebration."
Ching, draped in lei and a Hawaiian flag, gave into emotion after embracing Theocharidis.
"I wasn't going to break down, but Costas started hugging me, and he gave me that look," Ching said. "He's from Greece and I'm from Hawai'i, but he's like my brother. These four years went by so fast. It's hard to reflect on those four years in one moment, but everything hit us at once."
Theocharidis, who admitted to not crying since he was a child, said, "After four years ... all of the memories flashing before your eyes ... this wonderful crowd ... you've gotta cry. You have to let your emotions go."
 |
| Hawai‘i’s Costas Theocharidis celebrated Senior Night with 12 kills against Southern California last night. The Warriors defeated the Trojans in three games.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
While the aloha festival went on, with a video tribute and 300-pound football player Isaac Sopoaga's haka, the guests of honor were not ready to leave.
"It's not over yet," Theocharidis said. "The best is yet to come."
Indeed, the Warriors will host Pacific in Saturday's opening round of the eight-team Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament. The tournament winner earns the league's automatic berth in the NCAA final four.
"The national championship is our No. 1 goal," said Nordberg, a middle blocker from Wisconsin. "That's all we're thinking about."
Despite playing without injured middle blocker Delano Thomas (back spasms), the Warriors eased to their 13th consecutive victory.
The Warriors, who are 23-5 overall and 17-5 in the MPSF, actually finished in a tie for second place with Brigham Young, a three-game loser to top-ranked Pepperdine yesterday. But the Cougars earned the MPSF Tournament's No. 2 seed based on the results of a complicated tie-breaking formula.
"This is just the beginning of the journey," Zimet said. "Now everything starts."
It was fitting that the four seniors led the way last night, accounting for 52 of the Warriors' 90 points. Zimet, the team captain, had a team-high 14 kills, and Nordberg contributed 12 kills, with no errors, and two blocks.
The countdown to the postseason began when the Warriors took a 26-17 lead in Game 3. Theocharidis left the match to a rousing ovation. Later, when Ching exited, he was handed the Hawaiian flag.
"For sure, this means a lot," he said of the flag. "This where I was born and raised. This is the place I represent when I play. Hawai'i is very special to me, and it holds a special place in my heart."
That sentiment was echoed by Nordberg, who waved a Wisconsin flag. In the post-match ceremony, Kathy Nordberg gave her son a lei made of Saran Wrap, the same material he uses for his unique headbands.
"It worked out wonderfully for him," Kathy Nordberg said, referring to her son's decision to transfer from UC Santa Barbara. "Hawai'i has been terrific."
• • •
