Price hike proposed for men's volleyball tickets

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i men's volleyball fans will be expected to pay more for a season ticket in a "premium" location next season.

FRAZIER

"We're developing those (prices) right now, as we speak," Frazier said. "I think they'll be done by the end of the month."

Last year, there was a $40 premium-seat donation added to the price of each $155 season ticket in the lower bowl of the Stan Sheriff Center. By labeling the mandatory surcharge as a "donation," the ticket buyer was entitled to an 80-percent tax deduction on the added fee.

While options are being considered to increase youth attendance at Warrior volleyball matches, "at the same token," said Frazier, in defending the proposed surcharge hike, "you've got to pay for the program as well."

UH is looking to expand the number of student seats in the lower bowl, as well as creating a court-level student section in the area occupied by photographers and the team mascot's drums during matches.

UH coach Mike Wilton said he favors restructuring the ticket plan to encourage youth attendance. He said he would be willing to relinquish his family's eight lower-bowl seats to create room for students. This season, students were charged $6 for an upper-bowl ticket.

"I think, for sure, we've already priced the kids out, figuratively and literally," Wilton said.

• Champs sign on: Lewis, which defeated Brigham Young in the NCAA championship match last Saturday, has agreed to play in the UH-hosted Outrigger Invitational in January.

Lewis is a Division II school from Romeoville, Ill.

Penn State, an NCAA final four participant, and Manitoba of Canada are expected to compete in the three-night tournament.

The Outrigger tournament usually includes champions from conferences in the East and Midwest. In a team meeting shortly after Lewis won the Midwest title two weeks ago, Flyers coach Dave Deuser recalled, "All of a sudden, I said, 'This probably means we're going to Hawai'i.' The players were so happy."

Wilton extended the invitation to Deuser during last week's final four.

"We absolutely accepted," Deuser said. "We would never decline an invitation to play in Hawai'i."

During the nationally televised final four, Deuser wore a red lei provided by Diane Fong, a member of the UH men's volleyball booster club.

Deuser said Lewis' student bookstore sold out its initial order of 300 championship T-shirts in two hours. Seven hundred more T-shirts have been ordered.

"It's been crazy around here," Deuser said.

• Final piece: Willy Melemai, an All-State middle blocker from Kamehameha Schools, has decided to play for UH next season.

Melemai, who is 6 feet 6, will help replace Brian Nordberg, one of four UH seniors whose NCAA eligibility expired last month.

UH apparently has completed its recruiting for next season. The Warriors received commitments from Bryan Beckwith, a 6-6 setter from Los Angeles; 6-5 outside hitter Matt Carrerre from Canada, and libero Brian Villaroman.

It appears that a 6-8 middle blocker from Serbia is a long shot to enroll at UH in the fall.