ISLE FILE
HPU stuns top-ranked San Diego in volleyball
Advertiser Staff
Flavia Brakling hammered 21 kills as the fifth-seeded Hawai'i Pacific women's volleyball team stunned top seed and No. 1-ranked UC San Diego, 29-31, 30-24, 31-29, 23-30, 18-16, last night in the NCAA Division II Pacific Regionals at UCSD's RIMAC Arena in La Jolla, Calif.
The 18th-ranked Sea Warriors (17-7) advanced to tonight's regional final against third seed Cal State San Bernardino (27-4), which ousted second seed Western Washington, 25-30, 30-16, 30-21, 30-23, in yesterday's other semifinal.
Tonight's match, which starts at 5 p.m. HST, will be broadcast on 1500 AM.
Brakling added 14 digs, Paula Koikopoulos had 20 kills and 14 digs, and Nadica Karleusa contributed 15 kills and 16 digs as HPU rallied to beat the host Tritons (25-5), who saw their 20-match home win streak end.
Sea Warrior setter Vera Oliveira added 15 digs and 66 assists, boosting her season assist total to 1,005.
BASKETBALL
BYUH rallies to first win: Michael Stowell scored 17 points and Jake Chrisman added 13 as Brigham Young-Hawai'i rallied past Regis University, 63-57, last night in Denver, Colo.
Stowell, who missed all five of his field-goal attempts in the first half, hit 4 of 5 in the second half and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line as BYUH (1-1) rallied from a 30-25 halftime deficit.
Jay Goral scored 19 points for Regis (0-1).
Hawai'i-Hilo loses in OT: Rick Fetter scored seven of his 16 points in overtime, including a go-ahead 3-pointer, as Cal State Stanislaus opened its season with an 80-71 victory over Hawai'i-Hilo last night in Turlock, Calif.
Ryan Abrahams scored 21 points and Joe Travis added 17 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks for UH-Hilo (1-1).
GOLF
Veriato misses by one: Former Hilo resident Steve Veriato fell one stroke shy of earning conditional exempt status on the PGA's Champions Tour after shooting a final-round 3-under 69 yesterday at the final stage qualifying tournament in Coral Springs, Fla.
Veriato, who made three birdies on the back nine, finished in an 11-way tie for 16th with 1-over 289 at the TPC at Eagle Trace golf course. The top seven finishers — led by Mark McNulty (275) — earned full exempt status, while the next eight earned conditional exempt status.
Meanwhile, at the second-stage PGA Tour qualifying in Seaside, Calif., Honolulu's Parker McLachlin shot a 2-under 70 yesterday to move into a tie for 52nd place at 2-over 218.
Nick Watney, of Scottsdale, Ariz., leads with 11-under 205.
The final round will be played today, with the top 20 finishers and ties advancing to the final stage.
FOOTBALL
Hula Bowl additions: Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson and Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons have been added to the 2004 Hula Bowl Maui on Jan. 17, bowl officials announced.
Patterson has guided the Horned Frogs to a 10-1 record.
Symons, who is 6 feet 1 and 220 pounds, has thrown for 5,106 yards and 47 touchdowns this season. He is on pace to break Ty Detmer's NCAA record for passing yards in a season (5,188) and David Klinger's mark for total offense in a season (5,221).
The Red Raiders host top-ranked Oklahoma today.
To purchase Hula Bowl tickets, contact Jessica Tawney, ticket manager at (808) 874-9500 or jessica@hulabowlmaui.com, or stop by the Hula Bowl Maui kiosk in the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.
TENNIS
Top seed advances: Top-seeded Lamine Ouahab defeated Robert Yim, 6-4, 6-2, yesterday to reach the semifinals of the inaugural Hilton Waikoloa Village USTA Futures Tournament.
Ouahab will play fourth-seeded Todd Widom today at 11 a.m. Fritz Wolmarans will play Paul Logtens in the other semifinal match at the Hilton's Tennis Gardens.
Also yesterday, top seeds Trace Fielding and Keith From beat Jamie Gresh and Trevor Spracklin, 6-3, 6-4, to reach tomorrow's final.
