George Mason men's volleyball coach dies

George Mason's men's volleyball head coach died Thursday afternoon while swimming off the coast of the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Uvaldo Acosta and his team were visiting the island to play two matches against the University of Hawaii. During his day off, Acosta and a female companion from the George Mason staff went swimming around 1 p.m.

Lifeguards noticed the female friend struggling in the rough surf. She was rescued from the water and informed the guards that Acosta had been swept under.

The United States Coast Guard and Honolulu rescue/water safety boats were called to the scene to search for the coach. Acosta was eventually found two hours later, 200 miles out to sea. Despite resuscitation efforts, the 32-year-old coach was pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

Acosta was a four-year member of the U.S. National Team and an alternate on the 1992 Olympic team which won bronze in Barcelona. Acosta had a 4-2 record as head volleyball coach.

-- by Christy Rolak