70 apply for volleyball job at UHH
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i-Hilo athletic director Kathleen McNally said the school has received nearly 70 applications for the vacant women's volleyball head coaching position and has narrowed the field to nine candidates.
The vacancy was created when Hall of Fame coach Sharon Peterson announced her retirement on Dec. 4. Peterson coached the Vulcans for 25 years and served her final day on Dec. 31.
The Vulcan volleyball program is the school's flagship women's sport and has produced seven national titles.
McNally this week said the school is close to hiring a coach after a three-month search, but she did not give a hiring deadline. In January, the school had expected 15 to 20 applications.
"I hope at the end of the month, we're really close to something for the sake of the student-athletes," McNally said.
The signing day for volleyball recruits is April 16. UH-Hilo assistant coach Kawaileleohi`ilawe (he has no last name) has been recruiting players in the interim, McNally said.
The new volleyball coach is expected to raise 20 percent of the sport's $59,000 operating budget, according to school officials. The position pays a range of $34,032 to $51,036.
Peterson's teams won 511 matches and seven national championships in 25 years. Her players received 42 All-America honors.
Peterson was inducted into the El Camino Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame, California State University at Long Beach Athletic Hall of Fame, and NAIA Hall of Fame. In 1999, she was awarded the Flo Hyman award as an All-Time Great Player by USA Volleyball.
MORE VOLLEYBALL
BYUH tunes up against UH: The defending NCAA Division II national champion Brigham Young-Hawai'i women's volleyball team lost to UH-Manoa Saturday in a private scrimmage.
The Rainbows swept the Seasiders, 32-30, 30-26, 30-23, 30-21, 15-9 at Gym 1 on the UH-Manoa campus, according to BYUH coach Wilfred Navalta.
Hawai'i played with All-American Lily Kahumoku, but was without All-American Kim Willoughby, who was competing with the basketball team, and seniors Margaret Vakasausau and Jennifer Carey.
The Seasiders suited up eight players, including All-America freshmen Yu Chuan Weng and Chun Yi Lin, and sophomore setter Kaala Lo and junior middle blocker Ashley Moeai.
BYUH led 30-29 in Game 1, but couldn't hold off a UH comeback, Navalta said.
"The scores weren't too bad," Navalta said. "It was a nice workout for us. They just had too much talent for us."
SOFTBALL
UH-Hilo wins seventh straight, BYUH drops doubleheader: The UH-Hilo women's softball team swept a Pacific West Conference doubleheader from Hawai'i Pacific, 4-0 and 1-0, yesterday at HPU Windward field.
In the first game, Leo Sing Chow pitched a six-hitter and Claresa Asuncion, Nancy Vega and Erin Castillo each drove in one run.
In the second game, Diana Kim drove in the game's only run in the third inning in support of winner Kristine Kahoalii, who pitched a three-hitter.
The Vulcans won their seventh straight and improved to 14-2 overall and 9-1 in the PacWest. The Sea Warriors dropped to 16-10 and 5-7.
In another PacWest doubleheader yesterday, Western New Mexico swept Brigham Young-Hawai'i, 1-0 and 4-0, at La'ie.
In the first game, Angela Slaugh pitched at three-hitter and Jessica Yescas drove in Tiffany Mondhink with the winning run in the fourth inning.
In the second game, Mondhink allowed just one hit and struck out seven in the victory. Jessica Garcia drove in two runs for the Mustangs (27-2, 7-1). The Seasiders dropped to 15-17, 7-9.
