Three final-four volleyball teams join UH in Outrigger event
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Three of the men's volleyball teams that competed in last week's NCAA final four will play in the University of Hawai'i-hosted Outrigger Invitational in January.
UCLA, Ohio State and Penn State will join UH in the three-day round robin in the Stan Sheriff Center, UH coach Mike Wilton announced.
The Outrigger is considered to be the sport's most prestigious regular-season tournament.
UCLA competed in the first eight Outrigger tournaments, winning six championships, but was not invited the past three years. But acknowledging UCLA's popularity, Wilton decided to bring back the Bruins.
"It's a personal choice," Wilton said.
While Penn State has played in each of the 11 Outrigger tournaments, Ohio State, this year's Midwest champion, will be making its first appearance. It also will mark the first men's volleyball match between the Buckeyes and Warriors.
"We invited them before, but they felt it was too much class time to miss," Wilton said. "This time, (Buckeye coach Pete Hanson) got clearance from his athletic director to come."
Wilton said parts of the Warriors' 2006 schedule have been finalized. They will play road matches against 2005 national champion Pepperdine, Stanford, Pacific, UC Santa Barbara, Southern California and Cal State Northridge. The home matches are against Brigham Young, UCLA, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.
Wilton said UH has been invited to play exhibition matches at Penn State and in British Columbia in November. The 2006 final four will be played on Penn State's campus.
Although UH assistant coach Aaron Wilton is expected to attend graduate school at Sacramento State this academic year, two key Warriors — opposite hitter Lauri Hakala and video coordinator Radford Nakamura — will return.
There were concerns if Hakala, who was raised in Finland, could afford to live in Hawai'i. NCAA men's volleyball teams must share the financial equivalent of 4.5 scholarships. But Mike Wilton said Hakala "is going to be back" for his junior season.
Nakamura had been offered a position with the U.S. national team.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
