AVCA All-America Team

[PeppVBDad]

www.avca.org/collegiate/menawards/03AAmenpr.asp


AVCA First-Team All-America

Tony Ching University of Hawai’i OH Sr. 6-2
Doug English Cal State Northridge Lib Jr. 6-2.
Brad Keenan #^@ Pepperdine University MB Sr. 6-8
Gustavo Meyer Lewis University OH So. 6-4
Joe Nargi Cal State Northridge RS/Opp Sr. 6-7
Jimmy Pelzel University of California Irvine RS/Opp Jr. 6-5
Sean Rooney % Pepperdine University OH So 6-9
Chris Tamas University of the Pacific S Sr. 6-5
Costas Theocharidis #&* University of Hawai’i OH Sr. 6-3
Delano Thomas University of Hawai’i MB So. 6-7


AVCA Second-Team All-America

Jonathan Alleman BYU RS/Opp Jr. 6-3
Shane Davis Loyola University Chicago S Sr. 6-4
Carlos Guerra Penn State University OH Sr. 6-5
Keith Kowal Penn State University MB Jr. 6-5
Jose Martins Lewis University S Jr. 6-4
Carlos Moreno BYU S So. 6-4
Jeff Ptak IPFW OH Sr. 6-5
Justin Schnor Loyola University Chicago OH Sr. 6-4
Ryan Stuntz # Lewis University Lib Jr. 5-10
Fred Winters Pepperdine University OH Jr. 6-5

AVCA Player of the Year: Costas Theocharidis, University of Hawai’i
AVCA Newcomer of the Year: Tyler Hildebrand, Long Beach State (Fr., S, 6-4, Mesa, Ariz.)

[V]

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

For the second time in his recently completed University of Hawai'i men's volleyball career, outside hitter Costas Theocharidis was named as the American Volleyball Coaches Association's national Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-3 Theocharidis, of Greece, became the first Warrior named to the All-America first team for four years.

Theocharidis and Pepperdine middle blocker Brad Keenan, last year's top national player, became the fifth and sixth male volleyball players to earn AVCA first-team honors for four years. They follow Penn State's Ivan Contreras (1994-97), Stanford's Matt Fuerbringer, and UCLA's Adam Naeve (1997-99, 2001) and Brandon Taliafero (1997-2000).

But Theocharidis, whose season ended with last week's semifinal loss to Brigham Young in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament, was not in a celebratory mood.

"No matter what award I get," he said, "it doesn't come close to alleviating my pain and emotional disappointment from being eliminated last week."

Outside hitter Tony Ching, a 1999 Kamehameha Schools graduate, and middle blocker Delano Thomas, a sophomore from Sacramento, also were named to the first team.

"I'm happy for the guys who made first-team All-American," Theocharidis said. "They worked their butts off."

The 6-foot-2 Ching used a 40-inch vertical leap and powerful swing to emerge as the Warriors' go-to hitter late in the season. He also assumed the role of perimeter passer.

Thomas, who is 6 feet 7, has told UH officials he will compete in both football and volleyball next academic year. Thomas, who worked out briefly with the football team, is projected as a short-yardage receiver and kick blocker. He can touch a spot nearly 12 feet high.

Thomas will work out with both teams in the fall, and rejoin the volleyball team on a full-time basis for the start of the 2004 season. UH coach Mike Wilton said Thomas has the potential to play for the national volleyball team.

"I'm real happy for the three guys," Wilton said. "They deserve the recognition they're getting."

[Psychopotamus]

Interesting that Ching and Winters flip flopped for the AVCA. Not so interesting Thomas made it, considering they chose to include a second middle.

[V]

Theocharidis named AVCA Player of the Year

Hawaii's outside hitter is the first four-time first-team All-American in men's volleyball

By Cindy Luis
[e-mail]
He was looked upon as the best player out there every time he stepped onto the volleyball court.

Every match this season, Costas Theocharidis carried the heavy mantles of three-time All-American, the 2002 NCAA Finals MVP and 2001 National Player of the Year. The senior outside hitter for the Warriors shouldered the burdens well, becoming Hawaii's all-time leader in kills, kill attempts and service aces.

Yesterday, Theocharidis added yet another line to his resume when being named the American Volleyball Coaches Association's National Player of the Year for the second time in three years. He also became the first-ever four-time first-team All-American in men's volleyball.

"I don't think it's any surprise," UH associate head coach Tino Reyes said. "He led the country in kills and points-scored. He maybe had a better overall season last year but I don't know of anyone more deserving this season.

"And I'm really happy that our other two guys got the recognition."

UH teammates Tony Ching and Delano Thomas join Theocharidis on the 10-member first team. Ching, a senior hitter from Kamehameha, was second on the team in kills while Thomas, a sophomore middle blocker from Sacramento, led the Warriors in blocking and hitting percentage.

It was the first All-American award for Ching, who was named to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's second team last week. Thomas, a Volleyball Magazine All-American last season, was also on the MPSF's second team.

The three Hawaii players chose not to attend yesterday's banquet at Long Beach, Calif., site of this week's final four. In today's semifinals at The Pyramid, Pepperdine takes on Lewis, followed by BYU facing Penn State.

"I was kind of surprised," said Theocharidis yesterday. "Of course, no matter what award I get, it doesn't make up for our team not being in Long Beach (at the final four) this week. It's been hard to get over the emotional distress of how the season ended.

"But I'm really happy for Tony and Delano. They deserved it, worked their butts off and had exceptional seasons."

Theocharidis is the second Hawaii volleyball player to be named national Player of the Year twice. Wahine outside hitter Teee Williams earned the honor in 1987 and was co-player in 1989.

Other national players of the Year from UH are Yuval Katz (1996) and Angelica Ljungquist ('96).

Theocharidis said he will play in the Puerto Rico summer league, then return to UH in the fall to finish his degree work in finance and management information systems.

[roy]

Has anyone noticed the weird connection that Hawaii's men's and women's team has?

In 1996, both teams have the POY and lose in the NCAA Finals.

Then their is the Teee Williams/Costas connection. Both won POY twice (as a sophomore and a senior) and have only one NCAA championship ring.

And now, in 2003, Costas wins POY and the women have a great candidate for POY in Willoughby.

***Please note, I am tired, so its making perfect sense right now, but when I wake up tomorrow morning, it wont seem like a huge revelation.***

[sweetieVBfan]

2003- willoughby and costas both seniors

[SC1]

More Hawaii coincidences.......or not?

UH women place 2 OH and 1 MB on AA

UH men place 2 OH and 1 MB on AA

UH womens last match last season 3 game loss to Stanford

UH mens last match 3 game loss to BYU

UH men lose possibly their best 4yr OH ever in Costas

UH women lose possibly thier best 4yr OH ever in Kim this year

2 seniors this year from UH Tony(Men) and Lily(Women) both went to the same High School, and both have 4 letters in their first name?

Lily and Costas are both number 9

[IdahoBoy]

Hehe.... they both play all of their home matches in the SSC too.

They also live on an island in the middle of the Pacific!

Ok, ok, ok... sorry, but I couldn't refuse!

It is an interesting correlation, however.

You could go on-and-on and on too!

I don't think that Tony's middle name rival's Lily's however.