UH hopes for
another key win
over BYU
A turning point in the season
Theocharidis named conference MVP
for the Warriors came after a
victory over the CougarsBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comMALIBU, Calif. >> Two months ago it was the turning point of the season for the Hawaii volleyball team. Now facing Brigham Young for the third time could be the end point.
MPSF Volleyball
All times Hawaii timeWhen: Tomorrow
Who: No. 1 Pepperdine vs. No. 5 UC Irvine, 2 p.m.; No. 2 BYU vs. No. 3 Hawaii, 4:30 p.m.
TV: KFVE, for Hawaii game
Radio: 1420-AM, for Hawaii game
The second-ranked Warriors (24-5) clash tomorrow with the third-ranked Cougars at 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation semifinal that will most likely end the season for the loser. Top-ranked Pepperdine hosts the tournament and faces No. 7 UC Irvine in the early semifinal at 2 p.m.
It was at BYU in February that Hawaii believes the course of its campaign changed. Before the matches, the Warriors had been erratic, sometimes playing up, sometimes down, and hardly ever smooth from beginning to end.
It was the same story in Provo, Utah, with Hawaii getting swept the first night.
But the Warriors rebounded the next night with a new lineup, giving an inspired performance that began an unbelievable stretch of the season.
The Warriors started serving teams off the court and would win 15 of the next 16 matches, including a school-record 14 in a row. Hawaii topped the MPSF standings in team hitting percentage (.358), kills (17.02) and aces (1.37).
The Cougars (20-6) were steady the rest of their season and finished with an identical conference record (17-5) to Hawaii's. Statistically, BYU wasn't too far off from UH, ranking third in hitting percentage (.342), aces (1.27) and blocking (5.47) in the MPSF.
If BYU is on, the Cougars will be hard to defend. Three different hitters can light it up. Senior Rafael Paal led the league in serving and destroyed Hawaii in the first match with his hitting (.640, 19 kills). It was a feat he hasn't approached since. He averages 3.35 kills a game. Junior opposite Jonathan Alleman leads the team with 3.89 kills while Jaime Mayol averages 2.72 kills.
"They're a very good team," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "They have an athletic and agile setter. (Carlos Moreno) likes to attack a lot, almost two times per game, and he's real efficient at it. They're a balanced attack. No question."
It is the Cougars' emotional level that coach Tom Peterson questions.
"We're a better team than we were a few months ago," said Peterson, the MPSF Tri-Coach of the Year. "Hawaii is always at a very high level. I don't think that level we played at over the weekend is going to get us past Hawaii.
"We're going to have to bring it up another notch to have that chance. We're an emotional team and when we're up, we're a handful to deal with. That's our good and our bad. When we're on, we're pretty good with a decent offense and some things going for us. When we're not, we go in streaks."
Peterson would prefer not to depend on emotion. It doesn't always make for pretty volleyball, especially with the pressure inherent in this match.
Peterson thinks Hawaii has the advantage in experience and composure.
The Warriors know they do.
"It is like last year. If we beat BYU in the semifinals, there's a good chance we're going to get the (at-large) bid," said Warriors captain Eyal Zimet. "Everybody knows that. It's the same thing for them.
"Last year, the core of this team went all the way. That's very helpful for this year. We know what it takes. We know what kind of pressure we're going to have to play under. We like pressure, we're good at it."
With the teams about even in every category, coaches in the tournament have shied away from hazarding any guesses about who will win.
"They're both so physically talented and experienced teams. Hawaii is the national champion from last year, BYU, the year before that," UC Irvine coach John Speraw said. "They're used to winning. They're both very confident teams. They're both two of the better blocking teams in the conference.
"They both serve real tough, both play great defense. It's going to be a really interesting volleyball match. I would struggle to make a prediction on that. I really would. I'm just going to sit down and watch a good volleyball match."
Added Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy: "Hawaii is obviously outstanding and BYU has some firepower, too. That should be a heck of a match."
But only the winner goes on.
Notes: The Warriors left yesterday afternoon and arrived late in Los Angeles. ... This is the fourth time in seven years Hawaii and BYU will meet in the MPSF playoffs. The Cougars lead the overall series 15-13 and have a 2-1 advantage in MPSF tourney play.
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Theocharidis named
The postseason awards have started for Hawaii senior Costas Theocharidis. Yesterday, the most-decorated volleyball player in school history was voted the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year by the conference coaches.
MPSF Player of YearTheocharidis earned the league's top award in 2001 and is a four-time first-team selection.
Joining Theocharidis on the all-conference teams are Warrior senior Tony Ching (second team), sophomore Delano Thomas (second), senior Eyal Zimet (third) and setter Kimo Tuyay (honorable mention).
For the first time in MPSF history, three coaches share the top honor. Cal State Northridge's Jeff Campbell, Pacific's Joe Wortmann and Brigham Young's Tom Peterson were named the Tri-Coaches of the Year.
Star-Bulletin staff
UH Athletics
