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Post by V on Apr 10, 2003 6:06:51 GMT -5
Aloha ball for diverse group of Warrior volleyball seniors
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
A group of four can be "fab," as in the Beatles, or "fantastic," as in comic book heroes, but the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team's four seniors have managed to defy description.
Middle blocker Brian Nordberg and outside hitters Costas Theocharidis, Tony Ching and Eyal Zimet share the common ground of having little in common.
Theocharidis is from Greece, Zimet from Israel, Nordberg from Wisconsin and Ching from Hawai'i.
Nordberg is light-spirited, using shoelaces or Saran Wrap as headbands.
Theocharidis is demonstrative. The enduring image of UH's 2002 championship is not Theochari-dis' winning kill but his Mad Greek scramble as he raced around the court in search of a hug.
Ching uses an adrenaline-fueled rage to hit over taller blockers. Zimet was picked as team captain because of his on-court cool.
"I've kind of marveled how athletics brought us together," Nordberg said. "I would never know a guy from Greece or Israel if it weren't for volleyball. That brought us together. That's kind of cool."
Theocharidis said: "And I would never meet somebody from Wisconsin without volleyball. The good thing is, not only do you learn stuff from these guys and their cultures, I was blessed to get along with great guys. You could have random guys from Wisconsin, Israel and Hawai'i, but they might not be nice guys. I was blessed to meet these great guys."
Each took a different path to Manoa. Zimet pursued college after serving three years in the Israeli Army. Theocharidis sent an audition tape to the UH coaches. Nordberg transferred from UC Santa Barbara two years ago. Ching joined UH as a non-scholarship player after failing to receive a Division I offer.
"People have recruiting lists and Fab 50s, but they don't mean much," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "There are players out there. You just have to find them, and sometimes get lucky."
Entering their final regular-season matches tomorrow and Saturday against Southern California, Theocharidis is the program's career kill leader, Zimet is the team's best passer, Nordberg is the starting middle blocker and Ching has been the go-to hitter during the last month. Neglect, Ching has said, has led to motivation.
"We've all had that feeling of rejection," Ching said. "We want to prove everybody wrong. When I play a school that didn't return my letters, for sure, that's a driving force. That's a common ground for all of us."
The four seniors are on track to earn their degrees. Nordberg, a finance major, will participate in next month's commencement ceremony. Theocharidis, who is majoring in international business, graduates in December. Zimet, a computer science major, and Ching, who is majoring in business management, will earn degrees next year.
"We're lucky to be on the same team at the same time," Zimet said.
Theocharidis said: "We might be from different places and we might speak different languages, but what brings us together is the universal sport of volleyball. I feel these guys have become my brothers. As the semester progresses and we're coming to the end of the season, I feel a part of me is going away. Hopefully, we can remain friends for years to come."
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Post by Rollshot on Apr 10, 2003 12:40:55 GMT -5
"People have recruiting lists and Fab 50s, but they don't mean much," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "There are players out there. You just have to find them, and sometimes get lucky." Amen! |
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Post by My 2 Sense on Apr 10, 2003 14:31:19 GMT -5
Absolute crap. Just because he finds one diamond in the ruff from who didn't get the accolades in hs and was probably a late bloomer (and a good one at that), and two foreign guys who are not elligible for U.S. lists, DOES NOT give credence to the notion of throwing out the Fab 50 list. Is it perfect? Of course not. Is it indicative of players who will excell in college? Maybe yes, Maybe no. It isn't a list of "projected great college players." It's a list of kids who are worthy of mention from their high school careers. And I'd bet that if you took the Fab 50 from the last few years to see who did well in college a good deal of them have done well. I'd bet the boy's list is more accurate than the girl's list too. It's such a smaller universe and the top boys easily stand out at the national tournaments in July. Yes Wilton can find quality players all around the world that aren't on the list, and an occassional player that was passed over by D-1 coaches. No argument there. |
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Post by What About on Apr 10, 2003 15:56:57 GMT -5
Was Vernon P. a Fab 50 player? If not, then Wilton had found two, him and Tony.
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Post by BOOKUMDANOALOHA on Apr 10, 2003 16:33:12 GMT -5
Don't let that article fool you. Hawaii recruits their share of Fab 50 players. Tuyay, Thomas, Motter and Beckwith are all Fab 50 players with impressive High School, Club and Youth and Junior National Team experience. Prior to Tuyay I don't believe Hawaii recruited any Fab 50 players, then again, I don't know when the Fab 50 selection started.
However, programs like Hawaii, Pepperdine, USC, Pacific and BYU cannot afford to "stockpile" players on their rosters (unlike the UC's and Cal State schools) because of the 4.5 scholarship limitation, expensive private university tuition and/or cost of living considerations. These schools need to recruit players who will make immediate impact on their programs as freshmen. Keenan, Winters, Rooney, Thomas, Tuyay, Tamas, Moreno, Theoharidis, Rodgers all started as freshmen. I'm pretty sure they all received ample scholarship/financial aid packages - unlike the UC and State school.
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Post by StanfordFan on Apr 10, 2003 16:58:24 GMT -5
Isn't Hawaii a state school? How much is out of state tuition? And can a non-state resident petition for state-student status after a few years? Don't let that article fool you. Hawaii recruits their share of Fab 50 players. Tuyay, Thomas, Motter and Beckwith are all Fab 50 players with impressive High School, Club and Youth and Junior National Team experience. Prior to Tuyay I don't believe Hawaii recruited any Fab 50 players, then again, I don't know when the Fab 50 selection started. However, programs like Hawaii, Pepperdine, USC, Pacific and BYU cannot afford to "stockpile" players on their rosters (unlike the UC's and Cal State schools) because of the 4.5 scholarship limitation, expensive private university tuition and/or cost of living considerations. These schools need to recruit players who will make immediate impact on their programs as freshmen. Keenan, Winters, Rooney, Thomas, Tuyay, Tamas, Moreno, Theoharidis, Rodgers all started as freshmen. I'm pretty sure they all received ample scholarship/financial aid packages - unlike the UC and State school. |
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Post by Psychopotamus on Apr 10, 2003 17:21:53 GMT -5
The rule a few years ago was you had to have been living and employed in the state for a one year period and filed taxes here at least one year in order to qualify for residen tuition. Not sure how much each is, but I do know it makes a pretty big difference.
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Post by hawaii guest on Apr 10, 2003 18:08:54 GMT -5
Was Vernon P. a Fab 50 player? If not, then Wilton had found two, him and Tony. What about Aaron Wilton and Rick Tune. Two non fab 50 all americans if I'm not mistaken |
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Post by V on Apr 10, 2003 20:59:00 GMT -5
Four Hawaii players try to finish regular season by extending win streak to 13 games
By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.com
It's not time for the one-and-done mentality, yet.
That will be next week, when the Hawaii volleyball team hosts a first-round Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoff match. But the second-ranked Warriors can't be too relaxed for their final regular-season matches tomorrow and Saturday against USC (6-23, 2-18 MPSF). The first serve is 7 p.m. for both matches.
While the rest of Hawaii's playoff-bound conference foes have been battling with post-season ferocity, the Warriors (21-5,15-5 MPSF) have been coasting through matches and winning with their superior talent.
Hawaii might have stretched its win streak to 11 last weekend, but it wasn't a convincing performance for a team attempting to repeat as national champions. The Warriors swept UC Santa Barbara the first night but struggled mightily the second night when their serving disappeared.
"We can't be the way we were last weekend. We're trying to end that kind of stuff. That was a collective yawn," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "Maybe that's kind of understandable. We've been playing at a really high level ever since the 21st of February. It was understandable -- not enjoyable, but understandable. I don't think there's a player who feels very good about how we played last weekend.
"Everyone is in playoff mode already because they have to. There's four teams that are in and there's five fighting for the remaining four. Every match is huge. It's senior weekend (for us). We have four great guys and we want them to go out in style."
Last year's seniors didn't. Former Warrior standouts Dejan Miladinovic and Vernon Podlewski ended the regular season with a loss to Brigham Young but concluded their careers with a victory when Hawaii won the national title three weeks later.
This year's seniors are hoping for a similar result. Tony Ching, Brian Nordberg, Costas Theocharidis and Eyal Zimet will be honored following Saturday's match and they don't want to head into the playoffs with a loss.
"Hopefully, my senior night will be on May 3rd, the night of the national championship," Ching said. "This is going to be something special. My whole family is coming out to watch."
Theocharidis thinks the Warriors will be motivated in spite of their opponent.
"It's senior night. That's a great motivation for us. We'll have fun and play well. (USC) is going to come out and play hard and play well in front of the Hawaii crowd," Theocharidis said. "The past month, we haven't had the competition we had the previous month. That's why we kind of dropped to the level of our opponents.
"The only way we can stay up at the level we were at ... is if we practice as hard as possible. Everyone is trying hard to make the playoffs. That's why they're up."
The Trojans are just the opposite of up. USC has lost nine of its last 10 matches. The Trojans' 23 losses this season broke the school record for defeats (22) they set last year. USC will miss the playoffs for the second year in a row but could close the season on a high note. The Trojans have a few wins indicative of that possibility. Last month, USC defeated No. 7 Cal State Northridge and No. 5 Lewis.
Senior Josh Day, a Kamehameha alumnus and a high school teammate of Ching's, leads the Trojans in hitting percentage (.393) and blocks (1.10 per game).
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Post by V on Apr 11, 2003 13:25:55 GMT -5
By Stephen Tsai Advertiser Staff Writer It is apparent that the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team likes a good party. In preparation for the final two regular-season matches of the season, against Southern California tonight and tomorrow night, the Warriors have had spirited — and often giddy — practices and meetings. "We want to go out there and play so much," said outside hitter Tony Ching, one of the Warriors' four seniors. Middle blocker Brian Nordberg, also a senior, said: "It's been a blast. Tony's been so fired up in practice, he's gotten me more fired up. If every week was like this, it would be pretty sweet. This hasn't been a distraction at all. If anything, it's been a motivator." Concerned about his team's flat performance in two victories last week, UH coach Mike Wilton called a meeting after Wednesday's practice, imploring his players "to be intellectually and emotionally ready. Make sure you're properly focused. When it's time to be in English class, be an English student. When it's time for the match, be a player." For further inspiration, the Warriors can look to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation standings. Pepperdine (18-2) is in first place, followed by Brigham Young (16-4) and UH (15-5). Pepperdine and BYU meet in two matches in Malibu this weekend. If BYU sweeps, it also wins the tie-breaker and earns the No. 1 seed for the MPSF Tournament, which begins April 19. If those teams split and UH sweeps USC, BYU and UH would finish tied for second, although the Cougars, because of a complicated tie-breaking system, would earn the No. 2 seed. If BYU loses both matches and UH sweeps, UH would finish second, earn the No. 2 seed and gain the advantage in consideration for an at-large berth in the NCAA final four. The winners of the three conference tournaments earn automatic berths in the final four, with the at-large berth likely going to an MPSF team. An at-large berth is "a nice safety net," Nordberg said, "but that's not our mentality." "There's no at-large thing," UH opposite hitter Costas Theocharidis insisted. "We're going all the way this year. We want to win the (MPSF) Tournament." For the first time in three weeks, the Warriors are nearly at full strength. Ching and Theocharidis have recovered from flu-like symptoms. UH libero Jake Muise still has an injured left hand that requires him to wear a hard cast when he is not playing. But Muise said, "I can live with it. I can play with it." Since going to a set lineup Feb. 21, the Warriors are 12-1, including victories in the last 11 matches. Wilton said the Warriors appeared to be emotionally drained last week. "I'm not finding a lot of fault with that because we've played at a pretty high level for quite a while," Wilton said. Muise said: "We'll be fine, because the chemistry is there, and it's not going anywhere. It's hard to be emotionally fired up for teams that aren't as good as us. But either way, this weekend, it doesn't matter. We're going to be fired up because we need to get ready for the playoffs." Before yesterday's practice, Nordberg warned his teammates about the Trojans, adding his revised spin on history. "They pillage our towns, take our women and drink our beer," Nordberg said. "We have to be ready for the dreaded Trojans of Troy." Line-upsthe.honoluluadvertiser.com/dailypix/2003/Apr/11/sports8.gif |
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Post by Anonymous Beachman on Apr 11, 2003 13:34:21 GMT -5
If you don't think that there aren't "ways around" the 4.5 ATHLETIC scholarship limit then think again! Furthermore, many of the top players come from "well to do" families as well where $30 K a year for tuition "ain't no big deal" OR where there is other "tuition based aid" that can be taken advantage of! Helllllloooooooooooooo!
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Post by V on Apr 11, 2003 21:07:43 GMT -5
He brings his Trojans to Hawaii for the final weekend of the regular season
By Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.com
He's always been a dreamer. Dreaming is what got him through coaching seven days a week for 10 years.
Turhan Douglas dreamed of leading a Division I collegiate volleyball program when he first got bit by the coaching bug 15 years ago.
His experience in coaching more than 50 teams created an ample resume that made him well-qualified to take over as the interim head coach of the USC men's volleyball team last April when then-coach Pat Powers resigned.
Last month, much to Douglas' relief, the interim label was removed. Not that he really needed the validation. The proof of his success was in the change in attitude of his players. Everyone noticed it, from parents to opposing coaches.
"When he signed the contract and we found out that he was going to be the head coach, things went up really quickly," senior outside hitter Mark Dusharme said. "With Powers you have this negative feeling. Turhan was a real nice guy. He was our assistant coach. We all knew him and liked him. We knew he was a real good coach, real knowledgeable.
"We knew things would turn around immediately. Other coaches, our parents, other spectators have all noticed a change in us. We will not give up when we play. Last year, we walked into a gym and knew we'd lose and we didn't care.
"This year, we're fighting hard every match. We're playing more together as a team. He's pushed us pretty hard this year. We've had some tough matches this year and he tries to keep our spirits up. It was his fire that really kept us going."
Douglas has maintained his fire and optimism in spite of a transitioning and forgettable first season.
The Trojans were so disintegrated from last year that he has spent much of this season drilling his players in fundamentals and helping to rebuild their confidence and instill a team mindset.
"We're moving forward. The scores show the difference. We may have not had the wins, but we're fighting. We're competitive. Next year is going to be a different story," Douglas said.
"We've got some players coming in who are going to shock the volleyball world. The philosophy the past six years has been only recruit U.S. kids. My recruiting philosophy is different. We want to recruit the best players in the world. You look at (Brigham Young) and Hawaii, both these teams are extremely successful because they don't just look at kids in the U.S. They go everywhere to bring in the best possible players."
Hawaii will try to showcase its talent in matches tonight and tomorrow night at the Stan Sheriff Center as the regular season winds down. For the Warriors, they will move on to next week's playoffs. For the Trojans, they will be building for next year.
As for Douglas, he tries to remain open-minded even when dealing with narrow-minded people.
"I've had people plenty of times not shake my hand," said the African-American coach. "I've heard comments, derogatory comments, before. That gets a little frustrating when you walk by someone to shake their hand and they won't shake your hand and it happens on a regular basis.
"I don't let it get to me. I don't let their problem become my problem. I just go on. For the most part, it's fine and I'm comfortable in any place I'm in. I'm not intimidated by anyone or feel less than anyone."
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Post by Highly Interested on Apr 12, 2003 0:00:25 GMT -5
If you don't think that there aren't "ways around" the 4.5 ATHLETIC scholarship limit then think again! Furthermore, many of the top players come from "well to do" families as well where $30 K a year for tuition "ain't no big deal" OR where there is other "tuition based aid" that can be taken advantage of! Helllllloooooooooooooo! I think that's an important point. Could you explain some of the other ways you mean? Thanks. |
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Post by sweetieVBfan on Apr 13, 2003 21:06:08 GMT -5
schools are only allowed to give out 4.5 ATHLETIC scholarships. many schools also give out academic or merit scholarships to students. this is especially prominent in private schools (pepperdine, pacific, byu). for us citizens, there are also federal grants and loans.
and there is also the occasional rich family.
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Post by Eater on Apr 13, 2003 22:05:17 GMT -5
If you don't think that there aren't "ways around" the 4.5 ATHLETIC scholarship limit then think again! Furthermore, many of the top players come from "well to do" families as well where $30 K a year for tuition "ain't no big deal" OR where there is other "tuition based aid" that can be taken advantage of! Helllllloooooooooooooo! And there's lots of schools where it's NOT that easy to get other kinds of scholarships for your players. Not all athletic departments have equal amounts of clout. Some schools are stricter than others about who they give out academic scholarships to. |
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