WAC academic honors for Hawai'i's Savovic

Advertiser Staff

Another award has come Predrag Savovic's way. But this one is for his exploits in the classroom.

The University of Hawai'i star basketball player was named to the Western Athletic Conference's All-Academic team for winter sports.

Savovic had a 3.25 grade-point average in business.

Savovic, who led UH in scoring with 20.3 points a game, was named to the All-WAC first team for the second consecutive year. The 6-foot-6 senior guard was the first player in UH's 23 seasons in the WAC to make the all-conference first team in consecutive seasons.

He also was named to the Associated Press All-America honorable mention team.

Six Rainbow Wahine players — two basketball players and four swimmers — were also named all-academic.

Basketball sophomore Christa Brossman earned a 3.93 GPA in communication and freshman teammate Jade Abele a 3.32 in pre-education.

The swimmers are Jillian Saldana (3.68, global environment science), Brandie Smith (3.61, history), Sara Farr (3.30, art) and Michelle Vos (3.20, spanish).

SURFING

Hawai'i surfers advance: Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons and Kalani Robb scored impressive victories in the third round of the Rip Curl Pro yesterday to set up a fourth-round encounter.

The third round of the contest was completed in 3- to 5-foot waves at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia, yesterday.

Irons, who is from Hanalei, Kaua'i, defeated Great Britain's Russell Winter, 21.50-10.65. Irons' three-wave total included an 8.25 and a 7.5.

Robb, who is from O'ahu's North Shore, defeated Brazil's Guilherme Herdy, 22.25-18.00. Robb's top three waves received scores of 8.5, 8.25 and 5.5.

Irons and Robb are scheduled to face each other in the eighth heat of the fourth round. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals; the loser will be eliminated.

Former world champion Sunny Garcia of Wai'anae is scheduled to face Australia's Jake Paterson.