By Kathy Hansberry

The University of Hawaii Men’s Volleyball team proudly opened their regular season with the electrifying 16th annual Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational, January 7 through 9, 2010.

As in years past, this three-day tournament pinned the #12 Rainbow Warriors against the best of the best. The nationally top-ranked teams included #1 USC, #5 Penn State, and #10 Ohio State, attracting volleyball fans to the Stan Sheriff Center, as they battled the University of Hawaii’s Men’s Volleyball team each night of the tournament.

The Rainbow Warriors opened the tournament with a win by defeating Ohio State but suffered a loss on the second night against #5 ranked Penn State. Under the reign of new head coach Charlie Wade, the Warriors battled it out against #1 ranked USC on the final night of the tournament, beating them in four sets and successfully capturing the championship title in front of 4,023 cheering fans. The accolades continued for Hawaii, as Warrior Joshua Walker took top individual honors as Most Outstanding Player of the tournament with a total of 24 kills.

Besides the exciting Hawaii win, the crowd was also delighted to cheer on the contestants of the nightly on-court promotion “Outrigger Hukilau,” coordinated by the Outrigger Marketing and Promotions staff. The object of the game is for two contestants to work as a team to serve and catch up to ten volleyballs within one-minute, with each ball successfully caught worth $100. The contestants then switch sides and are given one chance to double their money. The big winners were Frances Goo of Waipahu and Laura McIntyre of California who successfully served and caught all ten balls, plus the bonus ball, each walking  away with $1,000 that Saturday night.

As always, there were many people who worked hard to make the 16th annual Outrigger Invitational a success. A big mahalo to Nancy Daniels, who represented Outrigger during the awards ceremony and presented the team awards, as well as the all-tournament and most valuable player awards. And special thanks go to the following Outrigger and OHANA team and family members who volunteered their time: Dan Daniels, Arnold Agustin, Burton Kong, Ellen Isidro, Ellie Agustin, Aitogi Totemese, Kathy Toyama, Kevin Wong, Lianne Bryant, Lorry Ijima-Sato, Scott Sato, Allyson Ijima, Gavin Ijima, Ashelly Ijima, Danny Wang, Heather Doeringer, Gowill Viloria, Lisa Kwock, Lorena Rosete, Raymond Scott, Victor Tong, Loan Montgomery-Freitas, Masako Sawyer, Shanna Usami, Shawn Usami, Suzanne Lee, Daniel Calpo, Jennifer Cabasag, Jo-Ann Yonamine, Sam Hoffman, Sharon Okada, So’o Tana, and Taryn Wong.

Hope to see you next year for the 17th annual Outrigger Hotels Volleyball Invitational!