[UH VOLLEYBALL]

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Fans greeted the triumphant University of Hawaii men's volleyball team yesterday as the NCAA champs rode through town on a trolley and stopped to sign autographs and thank people for their support. Dejan Miladinovic, left, and his teammates were cheered by hundreds of fans who crowded Tamarind Park, one of the stops along the route..

Crowds cheer
volleyball champs

The UH men's team parades
through downtown in a trolley

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By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com

Volleyball fanaticism was in full force as hundreds of devoted followers turned out to show their appreciation yesterday during a parade through Honolulu for the national champion University of Hawaii men's volleyball team.

Team captain Eyal Zimet took a deep breath and said, "It's amazing," as he looked around at the fans mobbing his teammates.

"The state deserves it," he said. "I'm happy we were the ones who were able to give it back -- all the support and everything."

The parade started at the University of Hawaii's Stan Sheriff Center and ended at Murphy's Bar & Grill for lunch. The UH Warriors won the NCAA men's trophy for the first time in school history Saturday in Pennsylvania by beating top-ranked Pepperdine.

A balloon-covered trolley, filled with the team players and coaches, arrived with police escort at the downtown restaurant, where outside hitter Tony Ching was the last one to finish signing autographs and posing for pictures in the middle of Nuuanu Avenue.

"By far we have the best fans in the world. When they come out and do what they did today, it solidifies it," Ching said. He didn't expect such a huge turnout.

KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Hundreds of people crowded Tamarind Park downtown yesterday to greet the University of Hawaii's first men's national volleyball champions. The team's coach, Mike Wilton, joined in signing autographs and thanking the fans for their support.

"I thought it was a workday. I thought everybody would be at work."

It was standing room only at Murphy's by the time the team arrived to cheers and screams of welcome. Owner Don Murphy said he had to turn down at least 100 requests for lunchtime reservations once word got out of the team's destination. Everyone in the 150-capacity restaurant was there specifically for the event, broadcast on KCCN radio, he said.

Mac Telefoni came all the way from Waimea on the Big Island to see the team because "they're the best." He waited more than an hour outside the restaurant before the team showed up.

Five juniors from Mililani High School took time off from a scheduled assembly to celebrate girlfriend Wu Tang's birthday at Murphy's and to get autographs on a giant card they made for her.

"We love the whole team so-o-o much," one of them said.

There was a special spot for Ching's autograph.

"She loves Tony Ching -- she's going to marry him!" one said.

"I am not!" Tang retorted as her friends squealed in laughter.

Charlene Miura brought her two daughters and a friend to the restaurant because Yuri, 13, was "begging me all last night." She allowed Yuri to call in sick on the "one condition that if her grades go down, she's grounded."

Looking at the cheering crowd, middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic said, "It doesn't get any better than this."

Gov. Ben Cayetano will host a luncheon at 1 p.m. today for the team and invited guests. The governor will present a proclamation that honors the team for its achievements and declares 2002 as "Warriors Volleyball Year" in Hawaii.

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UH Athletics