The Pilipa'a 18's club from the Big Island captured the bronze medal of the 2005 USA Volleyball Junior Olympics yesterday at Louisville, Ky.

Eventual champion Ponce Leones, of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico beat Pilipa'a, 23-25, 26-24, 15-8, in the semifinals.

Pilipa'a, which won the 17's division last year, beat Renaissance VBC of Gibsonia, Pa., 25-22, 25-13, in the quarterfinals.

Pilipa'a finished the 52-team tournament with a 10-1 record. Setter Treston Yasso and middle blocker Napua Canda were named to the all-tournament team.

Other Pilipa'a 18's team members were: Isaac DeGuzman, Andrew Dunn, Cory Enriques, Jonah Kalima, Justin Kekaualua and Gordon Lacy.

The Pilipa'a 16's finished with the 10th-best record after going 8-3.

SURFING

BARTELS TRIUMPHS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Wai'anae's Melanie Bartels won the women's division Mr. Price Pro surfing contest yesterday at Durban, South Africa.

Bartels defeated Australian Laurina McGrath in the final heat, 12.67-7.76. The final day of the competition was completed in 2- to 3-foot waves.

"The current was really pulling us and the waves weren't breaking like they usually do," said Bartels, 23. "You had to be picky with which wave you went for. It was anybody's ball game out there."

Bartels received $4,000 for her first victory of this year.

The contest was part of the World Qualifying Series for women, and did not count toward the world championship race.

Also at Durban yesterday, Leilani Gryde of the Big Island placed third in the girls junior pro division.

The men's division of the Mr. Price Pro is expected to finish today. Kaua'i's Bruce Irons is the only Hawai'i surfer remaining in the competition.