ISLE FILE
Metzger wins volleyball bronze in Brazil
Advertiser Staff
Olympian and Punahou graduate Stein Metzger claimed the bronze medal at last weekend's Swatch-FIVB Brazil Open, played on the beach in Salvador. Not counting losses to Olympic champions Emanuel Rego and Ricardo Santos of Brazil, Metzger and his partner Jake Gibb were perfect against international competition.
Eighth-seeded Gibb and Metzger defeated fourth-seeded Markus Egger and Martin Laciga of Switzerland, 17-21, 21-13, 16-14, in 71 minutes in the fourth-place match. They also had wins over teams from Kazakhstan, Japan, Spain, Brazil and Estonia. They shared $16,000 for third.
"Jake's blocking changed the match in the second set," Metzger said. "His blocking helped me play defense."
It was the second podium placement in five World Tour appearances this season for Gibb and Metzger, who finished as the top-ranked team on the American domestic circuit. After placing 13th in Berlin, Gibb and Metzger finished fifth (Portugal), second (Paris), seventh (Austria) and third in their next four international events.
Gibb and Metzger were named Team of the Year at the AVP (domestic) Player's Banquet. Olympic gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won the women's award. Gibb and May were named Most Valuable Players.
Gibb and Metzger won four domestic titles in their first season together.
"I think we have accomplished all of the goals that we wanted to this year," Metzger said. "Win the most tournaments, be the No. 1 team on tour and be the most consistent team on tour."
Sean Scott, another Punahou graduate who played for the University of Hawai'i, earned Most Improved Player. Scott won the last three team events of the 2005 AVP regular season, led the tour in hitting percentage and was third in kills.
In other volleyball news:
BYUH SWEEPS CU
Yu Chuan Weng hammered 27 kills as 21st-ranked Brigham Young-Hawai'i swept Chaminade, 30-24, 30-17, 32-30, last night in a Pacific West Conference match at La'ie.
Noelle Filimoeatu added 11 kills and Heitiare Wallace contributed 12 digs for the Seasiders (17-3, 5-3 PacWest).
Trina Kauliakamoa had 28 kills for the Silverswords (9-11, 0-7).
TENNIS
FUTURES TOMORROW
The Wild Card Tournament for entry into the Hilton Waikoloa Futures will be tomorrow and Sunday at the Hilton Waikoloa Village-Kohala Tennis Club. The $15,000 main draw will be Nov. 5 to 13.
Wild Card players can check in today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hilton Waikoloa Village. The draw will be posted at 7 p.m. Entry fee is $30 for singles and $40 for doubles.
This weekend's singles champion gets a place in the main draw. The doubles champions receive a Qualifying Card.
For more information, contact Tim Didonato at Hilton Waikoloa (808-886-2222) or kohalatennis.com.
The U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit will also visit O'ahu for the $15,000 Honolulu Futures, Nov. 12 to 20 at the University of Hawai'i. Sacha Heinneman, a UH freshman from Germany, won the Wild Card tournament and a place in the main draw. Jan Tribler, winner of the Open Sectional Championships in June, received the other main draw wild card.
Kahiau will sponsor a Schools Day for the Honolulu Futures on Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The first few days of each main draw tournament will be qualifying. Hawai'i players are encouraged to sign up by showing up the Friday before tournaments start, at the Kohala Tennis Club on the Big Island and the Waikiki Sunset Hotel in Honolulu. Check the USTA Web site (usta.com) for updated information.
The USTA National Western Regionals Mixed Doubles will also be in Hawai'i, Nov. 18 to 20, at Hilton Waikoloa Village.
FOUNDATION MEETING
The Hawai'i Pacific Tennis Foundation's Annual Meeting, Auction and Awards Banquet will be Dec. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Prince Kuhio Waikiki Radisson Hotel. The night will be shared with the ITF Hawai'i Pacific Veteran's Players Party.
University of Hawai'i tennis coach John Nelson will be featured speaker.
Cost is $35 for foundation members and $40 for the general public. To reserve a spot or get more information, call 677-1334 or e-mail beede@aloha.net or dav@hawaiitennis.org.
GOLF
SEKI IN TIE FOR THIRD
Punahou graduate Jim Seki is tied for third going into today's final round of the PGA Tour Qualifying School's first stage at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif.
Seki shot a 5-under-par 67 yesterday. At 12-under 204, he is two shots out of first.
The top 20 and ties advance to the Q-School's second stage.
SOFTBALL
UHH SCORES IN CLASS
The 2005 University of Hawai'i-Hilo squad finished with a team grade-point average of 3.110 to rank 39th on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's list.
