[UH VOLLEYBALL]

STAR-BULLETIN / 1997 Former Hawaii volleyball player Rick Tune says he can't decide who to root for in today's national championship game between UH and Pepperdine. Tune also played for the Waves.

Tune sitting on the net

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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.com

Rick Tune can't lose today.

The Punahou boys volleyball coach played for Hawaii and Pepperdine, the two teams meeting for the national championship in Happy Valley, Pa.

Although the Waves beat the Warriors three times this season, Tune said either team can win.

"Pepperdine is really big and physical. They come at you hard, nothing fancy," he said. "They really pound on you. They're well-coached and always know who to set."

His take on the Warriors:

"They're definitely a bunch of guys who are good all-around volleyball players. Dejan (Miladinovic) and Costas (Theocharidis) perform their roles particularly well. They're a little smaller, but they know how to take advantage of their quickness."

Tune, a Punahou graduate, went to Pepperdine after graduating from UH. The outstanding 6-foot-6 middle blocker had a year of eligibility left and helped the Waves to the national championship match in 1998. He also played in two final fours for UH.

Tune played against Miladinovic when he was a freshman in '98.

"He didn't play like a freshman. He was about 22 years old," Tune said. "That's another one of UH's advantages. They're all older. Guys like Dejan, Eyal (Zimet) and Costas have been on their national teams, been through the wars."

Who will Tune be rooting for today?

"I'm going to be sitting right on the fence," he said. "It's probably a good thing I'll be coaching my boys in a tournament and won't be able to watch the match on TV. I wouldn't know what side to sit on."

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UH Athletics