Pepperdine will not receive championship by default; use of an ineligible student- athlete cited as cause.
B Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
The 2002 Pepperdine men’s team was, at least on paper, one of the best squads ever to come through the university’s ranks in its long, storied, volleyball history.
In steamrolling through the national competition, Pepperdine recorded a mark of 29-4 and cruised into their NCAA Championship match against Hawaii the country’s top-ranked team and riding it’s longest winning streak —17. Its lineup consisted of the AVCA “Player of the Year” (Brad Keenan) and the AVCA “Newcomer of the Year” (Sean Rooney) and four accomplished seniors, all who teemed with big-game experience and talent.
It appeared all the pieces were in place for the school’s sixth national championship. That was until the Warriors, led by tournament MVP Costas Theocharidis, knocked off the Waves in four sets and snatched the title from the grasps of the seemingly unstoppable Pepperdine group.
Well, just this past week, the NCAA decided to grab back.
On Friday, the NCAA shocked the collegiate volleyball world when it informed the University of Hawaii that it had vacated the men’s volleyball team’s championship win because, according to the association’s findings, Theocharidis was found to be an ineligible student-athlete.
The NCAA mandated the school return its trophy and announced that the team’s place in the final standings and record in the championship would be deleted.
Theocharidis, who finished his career at Hawaii in 2003 as one of its most decorated athletes, was found to have played 22 professional matches in Europe before enrolling at UH in August of 1999.
He has since apologized to the university for his actions leading to the NCAA decision and said he did not intentionally mislead university officials.
After the decision came down, some at the university wondered if the title would be handed over to Pepperdine, the runner-up in the 2002 championship game. But, in accordance with NCAA rules, the title is simply left vacated, not handed over to the Waves.
Head Coach Marv Dunphy said his office was filled with calls from the Hawaiian press after Friday’s announcement.
“This is a fairly traumatic thing there, it’s the only championship in men’s sports they’ve ever had,” Dunphy said. “I think it’s unfortunate for everybody involved in the sport.”
As far as Dunphy is concerned, not getting the title by deferment is water under the bridge for the Waves.
“It’s an empty feeling, period,” he said. “After the fact it doesn’t make us feel any better or worse … it’s just unfortunate it happened for everyone … our guys, when they heard about it, just let it go.”
Current Waves outside hitter Fred Winters, a member of that 2002 runner-up team, echoed his coach’s feelings, but added that he was happy that the NCAA did follow through on its rules and regulations.
“I think it’s good that they caught it, you shouldn’t be allowed to have pro players playing volleyball in amateur, but I totally feel for them,” Winters said.
“It doesn’t change anything for us though,” he continued. “No one on the team is going around saying we’re the national champions … we wouldn’t want to win by default anyways.”
Winters did admit that things might have been different for Hawaii had they not had Theocharidis, but that goes for the teams like Penn State, which the Warriors beat en route to the title game.
“I mean, he was their best player by far, but now, almost two years later, I don’t think anyone here really cares,” Winters said. “But I know for sure they are bummed over there (in Hawaii).”
Hawaii has 30 days to submit its appeal to the NCAA, but it is unlikely the NCAA will overturn its original ruling.
September 11, 2003
