Warriors spike Waves

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In a men's volleyball match for the rages, Hawai'i delivered a four-game payback against top-ranked Pepperdine last night in the Stan Sheriff Center.

The scores were 30-25, 31-29, 26-30, 30-16.

In a meeting between the teams Wednesday, the Warriors lost in four games. "Is there more motivation than that?" said UH outside hitter Costas Theocharidis, who slammed a season-high 29 kills last night. "I felt really bad about (Wednesday's match). I felt bad for a long time."

Early yesterday morning, Theocharidis recalled thinking, "I felt like beating the No. 1 team. I was really motivated."

Tony Ching, UH's other starting left-side hitter, said Theocharidis "played with a lot of emotion. He's tired of losing, and that helps."

The Waves, who entered with a 12-match winning streak, fell to 13-2 overall and 11-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

In improving to 11-5 and 7-5, the Warriors squashed rumors of their early demise.

"Whoever thought that hasn't been paying attention the last three matches," UH coach Mike Wilton said, referring to a revised lineup that is now 2-1. "This team is ready to go. I'm not saying, 'We're not going to lose another (match),' but I guarantee you there will be a heck of an effort. This team has totally rejuvenated everybody who is closely associated with it, even the fans. The fans remind of '96. They're appreciating how hard the team is playing. It's just pretty sweet."

Once again, the Waves constructed an imposing block, a skyline whose average hitter is 6 feet 7. In particular, when 6-foot-9 outside hitter Sean Rooney and 6-10 middle blocker Andy Hein were in the front row, the Waves were able to smother the Warriors' outside attack.

"The best way to beat a block is to swing at it," UH middle blocker Delano Thomas said. "You have to keep swinging away."

UH opposite hitter Eyal Zimet agreed, saying, "That was part of our plan. We didn't want to avoid their block, even though they have probably the best block in the league."

Theocharidis and then Ching tried to ricochet shots off the double blocks or hit high for touch points. Sometimes, Kimo Tuyay would set quickly to Thomas or Brian Nordberg — each had 10 kills — or use them as decoys and tee it up for Theocharidis, Ching or Zimet.

"They're a big blocking team, and you're going to get blocked sometimes," Theocharidis said. "The secret is: don't get frustrated."

Although the Waves amassed 15.5 rejections, Pepperdine setter John Mayer noted, the Warriors eventually "rolled around" the block.

The Warriors also served aggressively, leading to off-centered passes, which in turn made the Waves' offense predictable. Left-side hitter Fred Winters committed nine hitting errors. Middle blocker Brad Keenan, last year's national Player of the Year, hit .238 and had difficulty with his trademark step-out move, in which he uses a running start to launch shots near the right pin. Four of Keenan's five hitting errors came on step-out moves.

"I think they served us off the court, and I put up some bad sets," Mayer said. "We had some good individual efforts. I think Sean (Rooney) played well and we had some good blocking out there. But as a team, I didn't feel it. We weren't clicking. You could feel it from the start."

The point was emphasized in Game 4, when Theocharidis and Ching seized control. In the Warriors' best game since the rally-scoring system was implemented in 2001, Theocharidis had 12 kills and Ching added seven.

"Tony erupted," Wilton said. "They were focusing so much on Costas, that when we gave it to Tony, he had an answer every time. He nailed his serves. He made some digs. He really sparked us."

The Waves burned two timeouts early in Game 4, and soon after they appeared to be exhausted, with their blockers resembling hold-up victims.

"I think at the end, it wasn't like their block collapsed, but mentally they collapsed," Zimet said. "That was unique to see. I'm sure it's not going to happen again."

Azenha leaves: Freshman Pedro Azenha of Brazil informed the coaches yesterday that he was quitting the UH team. Azenha started two matches this season before losing his job with the recent lineup change.

"Pedro wanted to transfer," Wilton said. "When I hear somebody say that, that means, 'I don't want to play anymore.' So that's it. He may have wanted to stay and play, but not for me. I wish him well. I'll do what I can to help him find another school."

Azenha is expected to remain in school for the rest of the spring semester. Unlike some other NCAA sports, Azenha can transfer without having to sit out a year.