Iolani star Carney will play at Lewis

Advertiser Staff

Iolani School senior Sean Carney, fresh off the Raiders' first-ever state boys volleyball championship victory, made a verbal commitment yesterday to play for defending NCAA champion Lewis University.

Carney, a 6-foot-3 setter/outside hitter, plans to sign his national letter of intent tomorrow. He turned down offers from Long Beach State and UC Irvine. Hawai'i, Pacific and UC Santa Barbara also showed interest.

"(Coaches at Lewis) told me their setter is a senior, so I would have an open shot at starting as a freshman," said Carney, who visited the 4,400-student campus in Romeoville, Ill., last month. "They have one backup setter now, but basically they're counting on me to start right away."

Carney said Lewis also offered the best scholarship package: $10,500 for volleyball and $6,500 for an academic grant. Tuition at Lewis is $15,950 a year.

• Eckert to Cal: Iolani senior Mark Eckert has made a verbal commitment to swim for the University of California. Eckert owns the state meet records in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle. He turned down an offer from Northwestern.

— By Wes Nakama

• Hilo, HPA in tournament: Hawai'i Prep routed Konawaena, 42-0, yesterday to win the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's Division II and represent the BIIF in the state Division II football tournament. On Friday, Hilo upset Kealakehe, 27-14, for the Division I title and will play in the state Division I tournament.