Katz returns
to Hawaii to play in
Riggers Classic
Indoors or out, the former
By Cindy Luis
University of Hawaii star is a force
to be reckoned with
Star-BulletinJon Andersen is throwing himself quite a birthday bash this weekend, complete with his favorite entertainment: volleyball. Quality volleyball, including the 1996 NCAA Men's Player of the Year. Andersen is turning 42. His Riggers Beach Volleyball Classic is 10. And Yuval Katz is back in Hawaii to show how he has come of age on the international playing scene.
"Life is very good right now," said Katz, the 23-year-old former University of Hawaii All-American who just completed his rookie season in the Greek pro league. "But I miss Hawaii, especially the people, the fans.
"A lot of fans go to our games but it's not like it was here."
In Katz's two seasons as a Rainbow, Hawaii made it to the final four twice, shattering national attendance marks along the way. The 8,000-plus fans that showed up nightly at the Special Events Arena more than prepared the Israeli national for the big time in Europe.
Competing for MGS Ethnikos, Katz led the Division I League in kills, sideouts, service efficiency and points-sideouts ratio. He was also third in total points, fifth in attack percentage and 10th in service aces.
The numbers added up to a new contract with a new team, Ktisifon Peania of Athens. He won't discuss his contract except to say he's making enough money to make him happy.
Ever since making the unprecedented announcement (for a volleyball player) in May of 1996 that he was leaving school, Katz has stayed very busy. The European indoor season ran from late September to early April; he then returned to the Israeli National Team in hopes of qualifying for the European Cup, a qualifier for the Olympics.
"The European zone is so competitive," said Katz.
"There's Italy, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Germany, Yugoslavia ... maybe we need to get in the African zone. It would be easier.
"We haven't qualified for the Cup in so long, maybe since my father played (in the later 1960s, early 70s). We were one game away from qualifying when I got injured and we lost to Slovakia, a team we had beat earlier."
Now he switches to the beach where he hasn't played seriously in about a year. He's teaming with perennial Riggers champion Adam Lockwood, getting in a light workout yesterday at Queen's Beach, site of the Saturday-Sunday event.
"The beach, it's a different game than from indoor," said Katz, the left-handed opposite who set numerous records in two seasons with UH.
"I haven't played in a while while these other guys come here every day."
"It will be interesting playing with Yuval," said Lockwood, who has won four of the past five Riggers tournaments paired with organizer Andersen. "Yuval is such an offensive weapon. Indoor or outdoor, Yuval is a pretty good hitter."
Andersen is sitting out his event for the first time. Winner of his own event eight times, he is recuperating from knee surgery.
Riggers Classic
What: Men's and women's open beach doubles.
