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Friday, April 28, 2000

A different trip to
finals for Theocharidis

By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

Costas Theocharidis was planning on a trip to Indiana next week, but not on these terms.

The 6-foot-2 freshman outside hitter for the University of Hawaii men's volleyball team will be there to pick up his first-team All-American hardware.

"I was thinking about finals, not final four," the outside hitter joked yesterday.

That would be finals as in final exams. Until last Saturday, finals also meant playing for the national championship.

USC took care of that, sweeping Hawaii out of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs and ending the Rainbows' season.

"That loss still hurts," Theocharidis said. "But I'm already excited about next year. Most top teams are losing their best players. We have almost everyone coming back."

Recently, top European players have left the Rainbows before their eligibility expired, either for pro leagues or to transfer. Theocharidis said UH fans needn't worry about him perpetuating that trend.

"I came here to improve as a volleyball player and to graduate," Theocharidis said. "Even if I am a pro volleyball player after (college) volleyball, it is my degree that will feed my family."

Theocharidis said he plans to remain in Hawaii to attend UH's first summer session. He will then return home to Greece for the first time since arriving in Manoa last fall.

"I'll rest a little while, and then start getting ready for next season," he said.

Theocharidis also received the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Newcomer of the Year Award.

Theocharidis was the only freshman on the first team - the other eight were either juniors or seniors - as well as Hawaii's first first-team selection since Andre Breuer in 1998.

Breuer, who transferred to Pepperdine for his final season, made the second team for the second straight year.

Also on the first team was Punahou graduate Scott Wong, a junior hitter for Pepperdine.

Last night in the MPSF playoffs at Malibu, Calif., the host Waves ousted top-seeded Southern Cal, 4-15, 15-13, 15-12, 17-15.

Tomorrow, Pepperdine (22-4) will meet UCLA (26-5) for the MPSF Tournament title and the automatic berth into next week's NCAA final four at Fort Wayne, Ind.

In last night's other semifinal, the Bruins knocked off Loyola Marymount, 15-8, 15-11, 13-15, 15-12.

The loser will likely get the at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.

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UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii