ISLE FILE
Willoughby shines, but Cuba edges U.S.
Advertiser Staff, News Reports
In what was arguably the most thrilling match of the Pan American Cup, the U.S. women's national volleyball training team gave three-time defending Olympic gold medallist Cuba all it could handle before losing Friday night, 18-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-18, 12-15, in Tijuana, Mexico.
University of Hawai'i outside hitter Kim Willoughby scored 16 points — a team-high 12 kills, two blocks, two service aces — to lead Team USA, which is comprised of players from the U.S. training team and A2 players from USA Volleyball's High Performance Program.
"They're (ranked) No. 2 in the world and I'm very happy that our effort took them to five games and we almost won," said USA libero Addie Hauschild.
Yumilka Ruiz had 20 points — 18 kills, one block, service ace — to lead Cuba.
MORE VOLLEYBALL
Bown contributes: Former Hawai'i Rainbow Heather Bown scored 10 points — six kills, three blocks, one ace — as U.S. women's national team began a four-match domestic tour against Italy Friday night with a 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 victory at Sandy, Utah.
"Tonight's match was a starting point for our team," said Bown. "Hopefully we can continue this path and improve as a team for the rest of this season."
Keba Phipps scored 14 points and Logan Tom 13 for Team USA.
Wong, Metzger advance: Punahou graduates Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong advanced to the semifinals of the AVP Belmar Open beach volleyball tournament at Belmar, N.J.
Metzger and Wong, the second seeds, beat the seventh-seeded team of Albert Hannemann and Jeff Nygaard, 21-18, 21-12.
Metzger and Wong, who won the bronze medal in last week's FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Switzerland, have placed third, second and fifth in their first three AVP Tour events this season.
Two other Punahou alumni, Mike Lambert and Lee LeGrande, were beaten by top seeds Eric Fonoimoana and Dax Holdren, 21-19, 21-15.
Danalee Bragado, another Punahou grad, and partner Monique Oliver lost in the quarterfinals.
OVC triumphs: O'ahu Volleyball Club won the 14 boys division yesterday at the annual Davis Volleyball Festival in Sacramento, Calif.
OVC, coached by Fred Robins, defeated Orange County Volleyball Club, 17-25, 25-18, 15-6, in the final. OVC lost earlier in the week and had to beat Orange County three times for the title.
The division had 221 teams.
Jammers Hawai'i lost to Puerto Rico in sudden death to finish second in the age 12 division. Impact Hawai'i was fourth. OVC's 16 team also finished fourth.
MEETING
QB Club: State Sen. Fred Hemmings and Hawai'i boxer Jesus Salud will be featured speakers at tomorrow's meeting of the Honolulu Quarterback Club at the Pagoda Hotel.
Hemmings will speak about a major initiative for education and the sports industry in Hawai'i at the collegiate level, and Salud will focus on boxing's comeback in the state.
Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m., and the program at noon.
