America's bloodiest day
Teams' travel plans in serious jeopardy

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Yesterday's terrorist attacks occurred during a relative lull in Hawai'i's small colleges sports schedule.

While administrators said upcoming local events will likely proceed as planned, scheduled road trips are still up in the air because of the air travel ban and the subsequent backlog that is expected.

Chaminade athletic director Aaron Griess said yesterday that travel disruptions will likely keep the Silversword water polo team from making scheduled matches with Occidental and Chapman tomorrow, Redlands Friday, and the Inland Classic Saturday and Sunday.

"With the travel situation so uncertain right now, it's highly doubtful we'll be able to go," he said.

Brigham Young-Hawai'i's water polo and volleyball teams were already on the road when the ban was announced yesterday morning, and both were able to complete their scheduled games last night.

The water polo team, which played Claremont (Calif.) yesterday, will have to wait for Los Angeles International Airport to re-open before it can return home, said BYUH athletic director Randy Day.

The Seasider volleyball team is scheduled to play the second of two matches against Montana State-Billings tonight. It has reservations to return home via Salt Lake City Friday.

BYUH is also scheduled to host a cross-country meet Saturday. All four local small college teams plus two University of Hawai'i teams are expected to compete. Day said the school has not been notified of any cancellations and intends to go forward with the event.

Hawai'i Pacific athletic director Tony Sellito said yesterday that his program was focusing on helping athletes deal with yesterday's news, and that no decision has been made regarding the rescheduling of any events.

The HPU volleyball team is scheduled to fly to Montana for a pair of matches against Montana State-Billings Sept. 21 and 23.

HPU sports information director Trey Garman said several Sea Warrior athletes have close ties to the East Coast. HPU basketball player Kawika Smith spent yesterday anxiously awaiting word on his grandfather, who lives on 3rd Street in New York.

On the Big Island, Hawai'i-Hilo volleyball coach Sharon Peterson got some good news yesterday morning when she learned that former player Heather Campbell, a United Airlines flight attendant based in Chicago, was safe and sound.

With the UH-Hilo campus closed yesterday, Peterson canceled the Vulcans' regularly scheduled practice. Peterson said it's too early to tell whether the team will be able to make its scheduled road trip to New Mexico and Montana next week.