ISLE FILE
Raymond, Black gain Big Island tennis final
Advertiser Staff
Second-seeded Lisa Raymond advanced to her second WTA Tour final of the year with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Belgian Els Callens yesterday in the Big Island Championships at Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Raymond will play unseeded Cara Black, from Zimbabwe, in today's 10 a.m. final. Black was leading Gala Leon Garcia 6-1, 2-1 when Garcia retired with tendinitis in her left shoulder.
Following today's singles, third-seeded Nannie De Villiers and Irina Selyutina will face second-seeded Meilen Tu and Maria Vento-Kabchi for the doubles championship.
Yesterday's win by the 25th-ranked Raymond puts her into her 10th career tour final. Earlier this year she made the Kroger St. Jude in Memphis her third career title.
"I've been real clear-minded here this week," said Raymond, who won in 1 hour and 16 minutes. "It's such a beautiful place. Anytime you go out on the court you enjoy it and I've really enjoyed my week here. It's showed in my results."
The 23-year-old Black, ranked 65th, advanced to her second career final, and now has her sights set on a first tour title.
"I'm really looking forward to it (the final) and I'm really excited. It would mean a lot to me as it's something I've been trying for all year," said Black. "(Raymond and I) have played a couple times before, I don't think I've beaten her so it's a good time for revenge."
Singles first prize in this $140,000 Sanex WTA Tour event is $22,000.
VOLLEYBALL
• HPU sweeps: Susy Garbelotti had a match-high 19 kills and Sandra Brunke added 15 as Hawai'i Pacific defeated Western New Mexico, 30-17, 30-27, 30-21, last night.
HPU improved to 8-3.
Kimberly Tano of Kane'ohe had 13 kills and Malia Kauhi of Hau'ula had 25 assists for Western New Mexico (6-3).
• Chaminade sweeps, too: Kahala Kabalis had 14 kills and 11 digs as Chaminade swept Montana State-Billings, 30-21, 30-26, 30-14, in Pacific West Conference play last night at McCabe Gym.
Chaminade improved to 7-1, MSU-Billings fell to 4-6.
CROSS COUNTRY
• HPU runs away: Hawai'i Pacific swept the men's and women's cross country divisions at the University of Hawai'i-Hilo Invitational yesterday.
HPU's Christian Madsen and Naji Abdeslam took the top two spots in the men's 8K race. HPU's Sayu Kusutani, Nina Christensen and Janine Brown claimed the top three spots in the women's 5K race.
Madsen won in 27 minutes, 20 seconds. Kusutani won in 18:34.
HPU's men won with a low-best total of 18 points, followed by Brigham Young-Hawai'i (55), Hawai'i-Hilo (74) and Chaminade (92).
HPU won the women's division with 23 points, followed by BYUH (62), UHH (65) and UH-Manoa (75). Chaminade did not qualify a team.
WATER POLO
• Chaminade takes two: The Chaminade men's water polo team swept Santa Clara and La Verne yesterday to remain unbeaten.
The Silverswords (5-0) beat Santa Clara, 9-7, and La Verne,17-7.
GOLF
• Sibayan still leads: Shannon Sibayan of Kaua'i retained his lead after shooting a second-round 73 in the Hickam Invitational yesterday.
Randy Shibuya (72) and Shigeru Kashiwatani (74) are five strokes back at 147. Michelle Wie, 12, is 10th after shooting 75—150.
MEETING
• Na Koa: University of Hawai'i football coaches Wes Suan and Vantz Singletary will be the featured speakers at tomorrow's Na Koa Football Club luncheon.
The event is open to the public at the All Star Cafe, located on Kalakaua at Nike Center. Cost is $12. Call 955-8326 for information.
