ISLE FILE
Metzger, partner beaten in Beach final

Advertiser Staff

Punahou graduate Stein Metzger and partner Dax Holdren lost in the final of the $400,000 Beach Volleyball World Championships yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Brazil's Ricardo Alex Costa Santos and Emanuel Rego won for the fifth time on the World Tour this year, taking the season-ending tournament with a 21-18, 21-15 victory.

"Today we were up against a great team that basically over-powered us," Metzger said. "But to reach the World Championship final in just our second event together is great."

Metzger and Holdren now have a silver medal to go with the fifth-place finish they secured in Los Angeles in their first World Tour event together, and will hope they can meet the minimum criteria of playing eight FIVB events to stand a chance of qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Games.

• HPU triumphs: Piikea Dudoit and Barbara Martin had 13 kills each to lead Hawai'i Pacific to a 30-28, 27-30, 30-21, 30-23 non-conference win over Hawai'i-Hilo yesterday at St. Andrew's Priory Gym.

Paula Koikopoulos added 12 kills for HPU (15-2). Sara Pilgreen had 17 kills for Hilo (5-10).