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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, June 8, 2003

ISLE FILE
Rolovich, Fire earn berth in World Bowl

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Chris Greisen threw two touchdown passes and Nick Rolovich threw for another score to help the Dusseldorf Rhein Fire clinch a berth in NFL Europe's World Bowl with a 33-7 victory over the visiting Barcelona Dragons yesterday.

Rolovich, a former University of Hawai'i quarterback, threw a 33-yard TD pass to Emmett Johnson. It was Rolovich's first touchdown pass since the team's third game. He completed 8 of 15 passes for 119 yards with no interceptions yesterday.

The Fire (6-4) eliminated Barcelona (5-5), and the Scottish Claymores (5-4) were also knocked out of contention, based on a tiebreaker formula.

The Fire face Frankfurt in World Bowl XI on Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland.


VOLLEYBALL

• Russia outlasts USA in volleyball semifinal: Evguenia Artamonova scored a match-high 19 points to lead a balanced attack as the world's top-ranked team, Russia, defeated the USA women's national volleyball team in five games in the championship semifinals of the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland.

Artamonova blasted 15 kills to go along with three blocks and one service ace in Russia's 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, 15-9 victory over the United States, the world's third-ranked team. With the win, the Russians improved to a perfect 4-0 in the tournament and advanced to today's championship match against China.

In the other championship semifinal, China (4-0) defeated Brazil, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23. The United States and Brazil (2-2) will battle for third place

University of Hawai'i alum Heather Bown scored four points for the United States.


• Clinic at Manoa, Maui: Former All-Americans Fiona Nepo and Tanya Fuamatu, current University of Hawai'i player Maja Gustin and former Rainbow Wahine Heidi Ilustre, Tehani Miyashiro and Chastity Nobriga and five-time boys state high school championship coach Scott Rigg are among the instructors listed for the Asics Rainbows clinics next month.

Louis Rodrigues, the Iolani boys coach, has lined up the big local names above and others for clinics at Manoa Recreation Center July 11-13 and at Seabury Hall on Maui July 18-21 for boys and girls aged 8 to 18. Each will have 12 hours of instruction and costs $125.

"We've ordered 120 volleyballs and we will be playing on five courts," Ramirez said. "We want to raise the level of the skills of the kids."

For registration information, see the Asics Rainbows Web site: www.eteamz.com/ASICSRainbowsHawaii.


• Olive's new field: Former University of Hawai'i All-American Jason Olive, a model and actor, will put on the Jayo Invitational Olympic-Amateur-Celebrity Volleyball Tournament in September in New York City.

The event is organized by Olive's non-profit Jayo Foundation. It will benefit the Foundation for the Advancement of Autistic People and Dig for Kids, an organization formed by Olympic gold medalist Eric Fonoimoana.

Fonoimoana and Dain Blanton, his partner at the 2000 Olympics, have committed to play along with Hawai'i beach players Lee LeGrande, Stein Metzger, Sean Scott and Kevin Wong.

Celebrities that committed early include Ben Vereen and Eddie Peck and Terry Ivens, who work with Olive on "All My Children."

The tournament is working with the New York Sports commission, Hudson River Park Trust and Pier Sixty.

It will be the first major event held at Pier 25 since 9-11.


TRACK AND FIELD

• Hershey meet set: The 20th annual Hawai'i State Hershey Track and Field Youth Program finals are June 21 at Kaiser High School.

The program, open to boys and girls ages 9 to 14, includes participants from O'ahu, Kaua'i, Maui, and Hawai'i counties.

Top competitors from the state meet are eligible for selection to the Pacific Southwest Regional team. Team members receive an all-expenses paid trip to Hershey, Pa., for the national meet at the Milton Hershey Field on Aug. 9.

Registration forms are available at City & County of Honolulu Recreation Centers, Military Recreation Centers, and some youth track programs. Registration deadline is Tuesday.

For more information, contact Dennis Arakaki at 586-6050 or email arakakid011@hawaii.rr.com.


SOCCER

• Earthquakes' Ching honored: Brian Ching of Hale'iwa was named the Los Gatos Brewing Company Earthquakes Player of the Month for May, after scoring two goals for the MLS team San Jose Earthquakes.

Ching, 25, also earned his first international appearance — or cap — with the U.S. Men's National Team, in a game against Wales on May 26. He became the first Hawai'i player to play for the National Team.


GOLF

• Gabriel Wilson advances: Hilo's Gabriel Wilson shot a 5-over-par 76 but held on for a one-stroke victory over Eric Yabuta in the Hilo qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Wilson, an 18-year-old Waiakea High graduate, had a two-day total of 145 after a 69 in the opening round at Hilo Municipal Golf Course. Yabuta shot 74-72-146.

Yabuta is the first alternate for the national tournament, scheduled for July 14-19 at Atlantic City, N.J.

Ryan Masuda was third at 78-70-148, followed by Ross Mitsutani (72-78-150) and Russ McGarry (75-76-151).


TENNIS

• 'Aiea teen a winner in Florida: Dennis Lajola, from 'Aiea, won all three of his matches at the Junior Davis Cup qualifying matches for North/Central America and the Caribbean last month. The event was held at the USA Tennis High Performance Headquarters in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Lajola competed on the Boys 14 team, playing second singles and first doubles. His partner was Donald Young from Chicago, the top-ranked U.S. player in Boys 14s.

Lajola won his singles match against Guatemala, 6-3, 6-0. In doubles, he and Young beat Mexico, 5-7, 6-0, 6-0 and Canada, 6-2, 6-2.

Lajola will go with the U.S. team to the finals in Czechoslovakia in August, with national coach Mike Sell, who said, "Dennis has unlimited potential and a bright future."

Lajola is seeded first in the Boys 16s at the USTA-Hawai'i Pacific Section Junior Sectional Championships, Wednesday to Saturday at Central O'ahu Regional Park.


ULTIMATE FIGHTING

• Vitale wins debut bout: Middleweight Falaniko Vitale of Honolulu won in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, knocking out Matt Lindland of Gresham, Ore., in the first round Friday in Las Vegas.

Lindland, a U.S. Olympic silver medalist wrestler, attemped a takedown but fell backwards. His head hit the mat and Vitale landed one punch while in his guard, knocking Lindland out.


POLO

• Waimanalo matches: The Honolulu Polo Club begins its five-month season today in Waimanalo.

Gates open at 1 p.m. and matches begin at 2:30 p.m. General admission is $3. Children under 12 are free.

Polo matches continue every Sunday through Oct. 12. The club is directly across from Bellows Beach Park in Waimanalo.


QUARTERBACK CLUB

• Blangiardi to speak: Rick Blangiardi, vice president and general manager of television stations KHON and KGMB, is the scheduled featured speaker at tomorrow's Honolulu Quarterback Club.

The club's luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and meeting at noon at Pagoda Restaurant.

Blangiardi, a former University of Hawai'i linebacker and assistant coach, returned to Hawai'i last year to manage the stations owned by Emmis Communications Corp. Blangiardi had been the Los Angeles-based president of the Telemundo Group.

Also scheduled to speak are Tyson Helton, UH football special teams coach and Doug Semones, an assistant coach with the Hawaiian Islanders arenafootball2 team.

Lunch is $7.50 for club members and $8 for non-members.