Theocharidis grabs national spotlight with big-time effort

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Costas Theocharidis, who received league and national player of the week honors, says the awards "reflect a great team effort. I did my part." Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Three hours after being named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's Player of the Week yesterday, he received the weekly award as the nation's top player from the American Volleyball Coaches Association/Sports Imports.

"I'm happy for him," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "You figured, sooner or later, he was going to get that (national award). He played great lately, but so did the team."

Theocharidis, in an expanded role as part of the Warriors' new lineup, hammered a season-high 29 kills in the Warriors' four-game victory over top-ranked Pepperdine on Friday.

"Almost 30 kills in one match is ridiculous when you're playing rally scoring," UH outside hitter Tony Ching said. "He carried the team."

In last Wednesday's match against Pepperdine, Theocharidis, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter from Greece, took a season-high 65 swings.

Theocharidis said he does not mind his revised role, in which he receives sets from the six rotation spots.

"If a team wins, nothing else matters, right?" he said. "If I put the balls away and the team wins, I'll keep doing that until it doesn't work."

Theocharidis said both awards "reflect a great team effort. I did my part. My teammates did their part."

Ching said: "Costas is Costas. He's racked up those awards since the first year he's been here. He deserves them."

But Wilton said credit should be spread among the other starters, particularly Ching, who has become a dependable passer, and middle blocker Brian Nordberg, who has energized the Warriors' defense. UH is 2-1 since Nordberg, a senior and part-time starter last season, and libero Jake Muise rejoined the lineup.

Wilton likens Nordberg to former UH middle blocker Sivan Leoni, also known for unique headbands and serving deliveries.

"They're both fearless," Wilton said. "When I'm comparing anybody to Sivan, I'm delivering the highest possible praise. Like Sivan, Brian marches to the beat of his own drum, but it's a nice cadence. I like him. I like everything about him."

Nordberg, who transferred from UC Santa Barbara in August 2001, said Leoni had become an urban legend.

"The rumor was he served in the Israeli Army and he killed a man with his bare hands," Nordberg said. "That was the rumor at Santa Barbara. One of my friends told me that. We thought he was a pretty gnarly guy. I ended up meeting him (for the first time last year). I thought he was a pretty good guy."

Of the comparison, Nordberg said: "I would be pretty happy if people thought I was like Sivan. I take it as a huge compliment. I hope Sivan doesn't mind too much."