MĀNOA — If hugs were a form of currency, Milan Zarkovic would've been the richest man in Hawai‘i on Thursday.
The revered former University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball associate head coach, now in the same role with UCLA, returned to the Islands with his new team for the first time as part of the OUTRIGGER Invitational.
Prior to the beginning of the tournament's first match, a 4 p.m. contest between the No. 1 Bruins and No. 14 Lewis, Zarkovic was the most active individual on the floor. Multiple fans walked down to say hi. There didn't seem to be a person in sight Zarkovic didn't recognize and vice versa, from Stan Sheriff Center employees to officials at the scorers table.
"Hawai‘i is a big part of my heart," Zarkovic told Aloha State Daily following the match, a UCLA sweep as the Bruins improved to 17-0. "That's why I stayed so many years. These nice, wonderful players, the players that they have before, the friends. That is something that makes me feel special here."
Despite trading his aloha shirt for a UCLA polo, there was no love lost between Zarkovic and the place he had called home for a dozen years.
"All I knew since I've been here was a volleyball program with Milan as the assistant coach," said Spectrum Sports analyst and local club volleyball coach James Anastassiades, who played for the 'Bows from 2016 to 2020, then served as a graduate assistant in 2021. "My favorite memory is just his personality. He's so unique in a coach's aspect that he really cares, and the chemistry he builds with everyone on the roster is huge. Just coming into practice every day, he's always cracking jokes, always making you feel good, and then obviously, the volleyball aspect, he's just so knowledgeable.
"It's big shoes to fill, and I think Donan (Cruz) has done a terrific job. I've got a lot of really good feedback from the guys. They say it's been terrific. But Milan, I'm happy for him. I think he's doing a great job at UCLA. Obviously, their record's really good, and I think he adds a lot of value to them. And he seems happy. So, it's a bittersweet feeling."
Zarkovic joined Hawai‘i head coach Charlie Wade's staff in the fall of 2013, following his son, Sinisa, to the Islands. Sinisa Zarkovic was a standout outside hitter from 2013 to 2016, earning second team All-AVCA honors as a senior.
Milan Zarkovic, a native of Serbia, also obtained American citizenship in August 2023. He was named the AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year that same year, which followed consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022. Throughout his time in Mānoa, he endeared himself to the team, adding to the program's international flavor. He still doesn't understate how difficult it was to leave.
"That was the one of the hardest moment in my life, because my family is here, my best friends are here. My son is married here," Zarkovic said. "It was a really hard decision."
No. 3 Hawai‘i 3, Mount Olive 0
In Thursday's nightcap, host No. 3 Hawai‘i swept Mount Olive 25-18, 25-19, 25-17 behind a match-high 10 kills from Kristian Titriyski. The Bulgaria native missed the previous 11 matches.
"It feels nice to be back there in front of the fans," said Titriyski, who entered to a loud ovation in the beginning of the second set. "It makes me really happy and i'm thankful for that."
Due to expected severe weather on Friday, UH Mānoa's campus will be closed. That also led to all athletic events scheduled to take place on Friday being called off on Thursday, which includes the second day of the OUTRIGGER Invitational. Hawai‘i will no longer play Lewis, while UCLA will not take on Mount Olive.
Saturday's 7 p.m. showdown between No. 1 UCLA and No. 3 Hawai‘i, which was already determined a sellout over a week in advance, is still on, weather permitting.
While UCLA and Mount Olive are set to leave following Saturday's action, there remains a possibility Lewis extends its trip in the Islands in order to play against Hawai‘i on Sunday.
With campus closed, the Rainbow Warriors have been told they are not allowed to practice or receive treatment in the training room on Friday. The plan, as of Thursday night, is for the 'Bows to reconvene on Saturday ahead of their biggest match of the season thus far.
"We don't get (Friday) to prepare," Wade said. "We show up on Saturday and do serve and pass to play the game like it was a regular kind of game day. It's kind of a forced complete day off."
Saturday showdown
UCLA will put its perfect season on the line when it enters a packed and spirited Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday night. It'll certainly be a familiar atmosphere to Zarkovic, who believes the matchup features the best the country has to offer.
"That will be the two best teams in America by my criterions. That will be the battle here in front of these wonderful people," said Zarkovic, who acknowledged that playing in front of 10,000 fans will be new to most of UCLA's players. "They will have that opportunity, and I think that we will be also inspired. The spectators will not inspire only Hawai‘i. They will inspire both teams."
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
