UH's Ching injured in traffic accident

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Former University of Hawai'i volleyball player Tony Ching is in critical but stable condition after suffering injuries to his head, lung, legs and shoulders in a traffic accident yesterday in Makiki.

"The next couple of days will be important," said his mother, Lynn Ching, "but he's a tough cookie. We know he'll come through."

Ching, who completed his NCAA eligibility last month, was injured when the mo-ped he was riding was struck by a car at the intersection of Wilder Avenue and Alexander Street at about 4 p.m.

Ching, who turned 22 this month, was taken to The Queen's Medical Center, where he underwent a four-hour surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, his mother said.

Ching spent last night in the critical-care unit.

"He's slowly responding," his mother said.

Last month, Ching, a 1999 Kamehameha Schools graduate, was named to the 2003 American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-America team. Ching, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, was one of four seniors on this year's UH team.

Ching, who initially joined UH as a non-scholarship player, played a key role in the Warriors' 2002 national championship.

In the 2002 title match, with Pepperdine keying on UH's Costas Theocharidis, Ching blasted away kills from the back row, helping the Warriors win the first national championship by a men's team in the school's history.

Teammates and coaches gathered at Queen's last night while Ching underwent surgery. Lynn Ching thanked fans who offered prayers.

Although Ching had completed his NCAA volleyball career, because he had not redshirted, he had one season of eligibility remaining in another sport. Ching had told UH football coaches he planned on trying out for the team in August.