ISLE FILE
BYUH's Weng national player of week in volleyball
Advertiser Staff
Brigham Young-Hawai'i women's volleyball player Yu Chuan Weng was named AVCA/Sports Imports Division II National Player of the Week yesterday.
Weng, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Hsinchu, Taiwan, led the Seasiders to the Barry Invitational championship and an upset of defending Division II champion and top-ranked Barry in Miami, Fla., over the weekend.
Weng, 18, became the first freshman in school history to win the national honor. She also earned Pacific West Conference Player of the Week honors and was named the tournament's most valuable player.
Against Barry on Saturday, Weng pounded 17 kills to lead the Seasiders to a 30-20, 30-26, 30-21 victory. In three matches, Weng recorded 53 kills, 30 digs and hit .436 as BYUH went 3-0.
The victories propelled BYUH from No. 26 to No. 7 in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll released yesterday. Barry fell from No. 1 to No. 6. Hawai'i Pacific University remained at No. 18, and Hawai'i-Hilo was tied at No. 29 with St. Mary's University (San Antonio).
WAC HONORS
UH's Kai chosen: University of Hawai'i forward Natasha Kai was named the Western Athletic Conference women's soccer Offensive Player of the Week for her performance in the OHANA Hotels & Resorts No Ka Oi Tournament at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium.
Kai, a freshman from Kahuku, scored three goals in two games in the tournament. Against Alabama-Birmingham on Friday, she scored the game-tying goal in a 1-1 match. She also scored twice against Wyoming in a 5-2 win on Sunday.
In volleyball, UH junior outside hitter Kim Willoughby was nominated for WAC Player of the Week. Willoughby, an All-American, finished with 49 kills against three top-20 teams and helped the fourth-ranked Rainbow Wahine win the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic championship.
Nevada's Michelle More was named WAC Player of the Week, amassing 75 kills in three matches at the Washington State Tournament.
GOLF
Leonard, Love join Grand Slam: Justin Leonard and Davis Love III will complete the foursome for the $1 million PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Nov. 26-27, at Po'ipu Bay Golf Course on Kaua'i.
Leonard is No. 1 on the major champions points list — composed of past major champions who competed in the 2002 majors — with 253.5 points while Love is No. 3 with 188.5 points. They will meet Masters and U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods and PGA champion Rich Beem.
Ernie Els, winner of the British Open, has withdrawn because of scheduling conflicts and personal reasons.
Last year's U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, who finished second on the major champions points list, is unable to compete because of scheduling conflicts.
Leonard's major championship season included a tie for 20th in the Masters, a tie for 12th in the U.S. Open, a tie for 14th in the British Open and a tie for fourth in the PGA Championship. He finished fourth in the 1997 PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
Love tied for 14th in the Masters and British Open, shared 24th in the U.S. Open and tied for 48th in the PGA Championship. He finished third in the 1997 and second in the 2000 PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
TENNIS
Kapalua champions crowned: Sean O'Connor of Irvine, Calif., beat Stuart Duncan of Portland, Ore., 7-5, 5-7, 7-6, Monday to capture the men's open title at the Kapalua Open Championships at the Kapalua Tennis Garden on Maui.
In the women's open final, former Brigham Young University-Hawai'i player Petra Gaspar beat Seabury Hall senior Jessica Konrad, 6-4, 6-4.
