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Post by warriordudette88 on Jan 11, 2005 20:02:31 GMT -5
Warriors Battle the "Past" This Friday
Release Date: 01/11/05
HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Warriors host the annual Alumni match this Friday, Jan. 14, at the Stan Sheriff Center. An all-Alumni match starts at 4:30 p.m. with the Varsity vs. Alumni serving it up at 7 p.m.
Lettermen from the 1950s through the 1970s start the evening's festivities. They'll play two rally-scoring games to 20 points.
Once that exhibition is completed, the lettermen from the 1980s and 1990s take to the court and play up until 6:20 p.m.
The Varsity match begins at 7 p.m.
A total of 36 players have signed up to play. The oldest alumni signed up is Manny Relator (1958-59). Current student assistant Jake Muise and Kimo Tuyay from the 2004 squad are the newcomers to the group.
The Alumni list also include Mike Among (1986-89), Sivan Leoni (1995-98), Jason Olive (1992-95), Victor Poppinga (1994-88), Costas Theocharidis (2000-03), Rick Tune (1995-97), and Aaron Wilton (1994-97).
should be a fun game to go and watch. I hope there's enough alumni to go against the varsity. one year there was only about 8 alumni playing against the varsity and by the end of the match the coach was playing.
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Post by UHfan on Jan 11, 2005 20:48:45 GMT -5
Anybody know if Eyal Zimet, Dejan, Josh Stanheiser, and Tony Ching are going to play in the alumni game this Friday?
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Jan 12, 2005 13:48:22 GMT -5
You would think that with soap-star, Madonna-video boy-toy Olive, and Aaron Wilton participating, the Groupie Factor would be high for this exhibition match.
I'm guessing BiK will probably go even though he swears he hates men's vball, just to see Wilton in action.
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Post by Bookumdanoaloha on Jan 12, 2005 14:08:04 GMT -5
My son told me that Eyal and Dejan was suppose to play. Tony is in Europe trying to get on a team. Josh was in town but had to leave this week, two days before the match. Josh is playing in Germany on some Division Three Team. Team is not very good, but he hopes to move up a division.
Wouldn't it be nice to host an Alumni game in Southern California. Just think of all the players in So. Cal. Allen and Matsui Allen, Mark Presho, Brenton Davis, Tori Tukuafu, Sean Scott, Jason Olive etc.
Bookumdanoaloha
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Post by roy on Jan 12, 2005 14:13:07 GMT -5
My son told me that Eyal and Dejan was suppose to play. Tony is in Europe trying to get on a team. Josh was in town but had to leave this week, two days before the match. Josh is playing in Germany on some Division Three Team. Team is not very good, but he hopes to move up a division. Wouldn't it be nice to host an Alumni game in Southern California. Just think of all the players in So. Cal. Allen and Matsui Allen, Mark Presho, Brenton Davis, Tori Tukuafu, Sean Scott, Jason Olive etc. Bookumdanoaloha That would be really fun. Something to get all the alumni together when Hawaii is finishing up a road trip or something. I would think its possible but a little strange not to have an alumni match in your own gym. |
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Post by rayson on Jan 12, 2005 14:58:44 GMT -5
My son told me that Eyal and Dejan was suppose to play. Bookumdanoaloha Sorry I'm a little confused. Does that mean they were suppose to play but aren't? |
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Post by planetasia01 on Jan 12, 2005 16:06:02 GMT -5
Has Clay Stanley or Yuval Katz ever played in an alumni game? I know Stanley is in Europe rite now, but imagine him with Yuval Katz and Costas Theocharidis on the court at the same time. Sorry to say but that's curtains for the current squad!
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Post by roy on Jan 12, 2005 16:26:13 GMT -5
Has Clay Stanley or Yuval Katz ever played in an alumni game? I know Stanley is in Europe rite now, but imagine him with Yuval Katz and Costas Theocharidis on the court at the same time. Sorry to say but that's curtains for the current squad! I don't think Katz or Stanley has ever played in the alumni match, but I hardly ever go to these matches. It is a scary thought. Actually, I get a little more worried for a team like UCLA. Hawaii has some great history with volleyball, but can't ever compare to UCLA. UCLA teams (not this year but other years) have gotten smashed by the alumni. It hasn't happened in a while, but when you think about the kind of line up UCLA can put together if all the alumni trained together for a while. In years past, the alumni have players like Nihipali, Taliaferro, Metzger Wong, and Nygaard participate in the alumni games. |
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Post by warriordudette88 on Jan 12, 2005 22:25:18 GMT -5
stanley has played in at least one alumni game. it was before the 2001 season. wouldn't it be interesting if costas, stanley, and yuval came and played together? or if the starting 1996 squad played together? I think a large number of people would come out to see that.
as for jason olive and aaron wilton, it's funny because last season there were these girls younger then me and they asked aaron for an autograph and a picture. they were probably around 6 or 7 when he was playing. jason ring is still popular too.
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Post by warriordudette88 on Jan 13, 2005 19:45:17 GMT -5
here's a couple of articles on the alumni game from today.
Warriors face tough
foe -- their past
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com
The team is not ranked. The players are out of NCAA eligibility.
UH Volleyball
When: Tomorrow, 4:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Who: Alumni vs. alumni, 4:30 p.m.; Alumni vs. varsity, 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: None.
Tickets: $3-$6.
Still, some think that this group of alumni will be the best squad that No. 6 Hawaii will face this season.
When the Warriors line up against their past tomorrow, they will see stars ... a lot of them. Players who got the program to its first final four appearance in 1995 -- Aaron Wilton, Sivan Leoni, Jason Olive, Rick Tune -- and some who carried UH to its last in 2002 -- Costas Theocharidis, Dejan Miladinovic, Eyal Zimet.
"It's good to stay close to our roots and not get too far from the history of the program," Warrior associate head coach Tino Reyes said. "It's about the camaraderie and letting our guys see where the program has come from, from (former head coach Dave) Shoji to Alan (former coach Rosehill) and now to us.
"The alums are going to be real good this year ... if they don't get too tired."
It was a dig at the age of some of the players, but even 10 years removed from the collegiate game the "old" guys will be very competitive.
Sean Scott (1992-95) just missed qualifying for last summer's Olympic Games in beach volleyball and is a touring pro on the beach circuit. Jason Ring (1996-97) also was on the AVP tour this past summer.
The group welcomed its newest alumni at a practice Tuesday night. The rookies from the 2004 team are setter Kimo Tuyay and libero Jake Muise, the Warriors' graduate assistant.
"The indicator was when Jason Olive brought everyone together and told us what was expected," Muise said. "He said the key job was for us to make sure that, when we play the boys, they knew how volleyball is supposed to be played. To have lots of fun and give 110 percent.
"That's what this program exemplifies. It was a blast meeting guys I had seen on TV or heard of. It was pretty neat to see who I consider 'old' -- guys from the '90s -- and the guys they looked up to, the ones from the '50s and '60s."
The program goes back five decades to when it was sponsored by the USVBA. The oldest of the 36 players who have signed up is Manny Relator (1958-59).
Tomorrow's format had players from the '50s through the '70s meeting in a 4:30 p.m. match consisting of two rally-score games to 20. It will be followed by the players from the '80s and '90s squaring off.
The varsity match starts at 7 p.m.
"This is another chance for us to get better by playing another good volleyball team," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "The alumni get fired up and that gets our guys fired up.
"The alumni are going to be real solid on the outside and that's always key to a good team. Kimo's a good setter and they'll have Rick Tune, Sivi (Sivan Leoni) and Aaron. Someone will have the tough job of deciding who all gets to play in the late game."
The Warriors, coming off a runner-up finish at last week's Outrigger Hotels Invitational, are nearly at full strength. Sidelined are junior hitter Matt Carere (back) and senior All-American middle Delano Thomas (academics).
Thomas may be eligible for Wednesday's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener with Cal State Northridge.
"This is going to be a good challenge for us," said sophomore libero Eric Kalima, a Kamehameha Schools graduate. "The program has a great history and I grew up watching guys like Jason Ring, Jason Olive, Aaron, Rick Tune, Yuval (Katz).
"I wanted to stay home and play in front of my family. I always wanted to be a Warrior."
"It's fun to see how much the team has evolved from what it was," added sophomore middle Dio Dante, a Maui High product. "On Maui, I knew the program was popular. People strive to be in the program and I feel very lucky to be a part of it."
In the polls: Hawaii (2-1) was No. 5 in the Volleyball magazine poll and No. 6 in the USA Today/CSTV poll released this week.
Volleyball ranks UCLA No. 1, followed by Pepperdine, BYU, Long Beach State and Hawaii.
The USA Today/CSTV poll has BYU No. 1, with 11 of 16 first-place votes, with UCLA earning the remaining five votes and the No. 2 spot. Trailing the Bruins are Pepperdine, Cal State Northridge, Long Beach State and Hawaii.
Theocharidis to play in UH alumni match
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i men's volleyball program welcomes back a prodigal player when the Warriors host the alumni tomorrow in the Stan Sheriff Center.
The exhibition marks the return of outside hitter Costas Theocharidis, one of the best — and most controversial — figures in the program's history.
Theocharidis is the sport's only four-time, first-team All-American and the Warriors' career leader in kills. But his experience as an amateur on a professional team in his native Greece prior to enrolling at UH in August 1999 led to the NCAA stripping the Warriors of their 2002 national championship.
"He will always be a member of our family," UH coach Mike Wilton said of Theocharidis, who did not receive money nor sign with an agent while in Greece. "He made a mistake, but it was a pretty honest mistake. Who could imagine what he did was such a heinous crime?"
Although appearing to be the fall guy, Theocharidis said, "I don't care. All of those things are in the past. People have to move on with their lives. If they don't, that's their problem. I moved on with my life. I'm enjoying my life in Hawai'i. I don't want to even think about what happened in the past."
The NCAA launched the investigation days after Theocharidis completed his UH career in April 2003. He visited Greece for three months, then returned to UH to complete work on a degree in finance. He works as a licensed wealth planner for a firm based in Manoa. He said he plans to spend the rest of his life in Hawai'i.
"I like the people here and I like the Hawaiian culture," Theocharidis said. "And I love my job. It's so hard to find a job that you really like. I like waking up in the morning and coming to the office and working here. I'm very lucky."
Although he played in a tournament during the summer and in an exhibition match two weeks ago, he is "semi-retired" from volleyball.
"Volleyball has been such a big part of my life, but there comes a point when you have to balance your life more," he said. "Back then, volleyball was such a big thing. Now it's a small part of my life, but it's still there, and I enjoy playing when I can."
He regularly attends UH matches, often sitting in the sections where fans used to wave "Grecian Formula" and "Greece Lightning" signs.
"I enjoy the game of volleyball, and nothing is going to stop me from supporting my team," he said. "I enjoy interacting with the boosters and the fans."
Theocharidis, who is in Hawai'i on a work visa, said he will apply for a green card and then U.S. citizenship. For now, he said he considers himself a "citizen of Hawai'i," and he admits to getting chicken skin when he sings along to "Hawai'i Pono'i" before UH home matches.
He said he remembers his first homework assignment from Wilton. "He told me I had to learn the words to 'Hawai'i Pono'i,'" Theocharidis recalled. "He said, 'If you don't know how to sing it, you're not allowed to eat a pre-game meal.' We sat down in the locker room and started memorizing the words. The same night, everybody would sing it. ... It's such a nice anthem. It makes you feel so good."
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Post by cbrown1709 on Jan 14, 2005 1:49:31 GMT -5
Did Tony Ching play? Hes my favorite wahine. He so fun to watch.
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Post by planetasia01 on Jan 14, 2005 2:04:56 GMT -5
Does anybody have a full list for the whole alumni team?
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Jan 14, 2005 2:06:52 GMT -5
Did Tony Ching play? Hes my favorite wahine. He so fun to watch. Dang, I don't know if Ching would be flattered or pissed off that you think of him as your favorite WAHINE. If it were me, I think I'd be a little bit pissed off at being called a wahine.  |
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Jan 14, 2005 2:08:22 GMT -5
Wouldn't it be nice to host an Alumni game in Southern California. Just think of all the players in So. Cal. Allen and Matsui Allen, Mark Presho, Brenton Davis, Tori Tukuafu, Sean Scott, Jason Olive etc. Bookumdanoaloha LOL. Presho. That guy has to be the humblest guy ever to play for UH. NOT!!!!! ;D |
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Jan 14, 2005 2:46:01 GMT -5
Okay, here's the trivia question for today:
What Madonna video and what TV ad did Jason Olive appear in while he was a member of the UH volleyball team?
BONUS QUESTION: Why did Olive give up his scholarship money and how was this one singular act of unselfishness the key in taking the UH program to its first-ever appearance to the Final Four?
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