SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK
Seasiders gain national volleyball prominence with stunning play

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

In one wild weekend, the identity of the Brigham Young-Hawai'i women's volleyball team turned from unproven to national title contenders.

The Seasiders upset defending NCAA Division II champion and former national No. 1 Barry, 30-20, 30-26, 30-21, Saturday in the Barry Invitational at Miami, Fla. As a result, BYUH climbed 19 spots in the AVCA Division II coaches' poll, from No. 26 to No. 7. Barry fell to No. 6.

"There's always more interest in a team that knocks off a No. 1," said BYUH sports information director Scott Lowe. "Particularly when you have a defending national champion that's returning so much of their team."

Barry returned five of six starters from last year's team. In the preseason poll, Barry received 31 out of 35 first-place votes for the No. 1 ranking. But the rankings meant little on Saturday.

BYUH freshman outside hitter Yu Chuan Weng amassed 17 kills in the match and finished the three-match tournament with 53 kills. The 18-year-old from Hsinchu, Taiwan, led the Seasiders (4-0) to a 3-0 record and the tournament championship.

She was named AVCA/Sports Imports Division II National Player of the Week, Pacific West Conference Player of the Week and MVP of the tournament. Opponents raved about Weng, who was playing in her first NCAA competition, Lowe said.

"She can pass, dig the ball well, and serve," Lowe said. "She's an outstanding athlete and very strong."

Weng's teammates Chun Yi Lin, a freshman middle blocker from Pingtune, Taiwan, and Kaalo Lo, a sophomore setter from Mililani, were named to the all-tournament team.

Weng is one of four players from China or Taiwan on the BYUH team. The four Asians, believed to be the most a BYUH volleyball team has ever had, follow a long line of Asian athletes who have played for the Seasiders.

"We've had numerous Asian tennis players," Lowe said. "We had players from Korea and Japan who have been winning national titles in tennis. We had a Japanese basketball player last year. This year we have Korean and Japanese basketball players."

Lowe said part of BYUH's mission is to provide education to students from the Pacific Islands and East Asia. He said the athletic program, which has been fortunate to attract quality foreign athletes, is simply keeping up with the overall mission of the school.

"It doesn't take long for our international players to come here and feel comfortable," Lowe said.

MORE VOLLEYBALL

Chaminade recap: The Chaminade women's volleyball team (5-1) won three matches at the St. Mary's National Invitational in San Antonio, Texas. The Silverswords beat South Dakota, Alaska-Anchorage and St. Mary's. Chaminade's only loss came to 13th-ranked Metro State. Sophomore outside hitter Valasi Sepulona earned all-tournament honors.

HPU, UHH recap: Hawai'i Pacific's and UH-Hilo's women's volleyball teams each played six matches at the 9th annual Hawaiian Style Classic in Hilo. HPU finished 3-3 with wins over East Texas Baptist, Northern State and UH-Hilo. UH-Hilo (3-4) finished 2-4, beating Evergreen State and East Texas Baptist. HPU senior middle blocker Susy Garbelotti was named all-tournament.

TENNIS

BYUH's Gaspar honored: BYUH tennis player Petra Gaspar has been named 2002 NCAA Woman of the Year for Hawai'i.

Gaspar, a four-time All-American, led the Seasiders to the NCAA II championship this past spring, giving her three national titles and one runner-up finish during her four years of competition.

The NCAA will select 10 finalists from the 50 state winners next month and will announce the NCAA Woman of the Year at the annual awards banquet in early November. All 50 state winners will be invited to the banquet and participate in a Sports Spectacular.

Gaspar is a three-time Pacific West All-Academic Team member and this year was honored as a Verizon College Division At-Large Academic All-American second-team member.

Gaspar, who is from Hungary, will graduate in December with a degree in travel management.

This Week's Volleyball Schedule

Tuesday

• BYU-Hawai'i def. St. Martin's (Lacey, Wash.), 30-8, 30-14, 30-20
• UH-Hilo def. Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, Calif.), 28-30, 30-23, 30-15, 27-30, 15-13

Yesterday

• Hawai'i Pacific University def. Azusa Pacific, 30-21, 30-24, 25-30, 30-19

Friday

• BYU-Hawai'i at Western Washington Invitational in Bellingham, Wash.
• UH-Hilo at Cal Poly Tournament in Pomona, Calif.
• Cal State-L.A. at Hawai'i Pacific