ISLE FILE
HPU names Kapis head volleyball coach
Advertiser Staff
Daryl Kapis, who spent the last three years as head coach of the San Jose City College women's volleyball team, has been hired by Hawai'i Pacific University as head women's volleyball coach, the school announced yesterday.
Kapis, 35, replaces Tita Ahuna, who resigned after 10 seasons with the Sea Warriors.
Kapis, of Santa Cruz, Calif., has 14 years of coaching experience at all levels, including stints with San Jose State University, UCLA, and USA Volleyball, according to HPU.
He guided San Jose City College to a 26-5 record last season, and its first league championship and first state championship appearance. In his three seasons, the Jaguars were 63-27.
"I'm very excited for this opportunity," Kapis said in a prepared statement. "I look forward to bringing various volleyball experiences to help HPU maintain and exceed the success of their nationally ranked program."
The Sea Warriors advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA West Regional last season, finishing with a 24-3 overall record and a No. 8 final ranking in the AVCA poll.
"We have been very fortunate to find a coach such as Daryl," HPU athletics director Jill Ward said in a statement. "He has a proven record at the club and community college levels, and has great recruiting connections via those contacts."
BOXING
PEREIRA EARNS SILVER
Wai'anae's Safire Pereira fought her way to the final of the 2006 Junior Olympic National Championships, but fell to Colorado's Ashley Barela Saturday at Marquette, Mich.
The best 15- and 16-year-old boxers in the U.S. competed in 22 final bouts for a national title.
Barela took a two-point lead in the first round of the flyweight division final and extended that to 19-5 after the second, giving Pereira a standing eight count.
Pereira rallied in the final round, closing to 28-16 at the end of the inaugural girls' national championship.
GOLF
HAWAI'I TEENS OVER PAR
Tadd Fujikawa is tied for seventh and Stephanie Kono shares eighth after yesterday's first round of the Rolex Tournament of Champions at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo.
Fujikawa, who will be a sophomore at Moanalua, opened with a 1-over-par 71. He trails leaders Abraham Lee and Hunter Slatton by four and is in a 10-way tie.
Kono, who will be a junior at Punahou, shot a 2-over 72 and is four behind leader Jane Rah.
Former Big Island resident Kimberly Kim, 14, was in the tournament, but got hit in the right wrist by an errant ball during a practice round Tuesday. She withdrew yesterday during a rain delay, opting to rest her wrist — which is not broken — for the U.S. Junior Girls Championship later this month.
VOLLEYBALL
U.S. GETS WORLD BERTH
The U.S. women's national team rallied to defeat Puerto Rico, 23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-8, Wednesday at San Juan, Puerto Rico, during quarterfinal action of the Pan American Cup.
The win qualified the U.S. for the 2007 World Grand Prix by being one of the top three teams from NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) in the Pan American Cup.
The Americans lost to Brazil, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-10, last night. They will play Cuba or the Dominican Republic in a third-place match tonight.
Former Hawai'i All-American Heather Bown had 12 points, on eight kills, three blocks and an ace against Puerto Rico. Another former UH All-American, Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, is one of the setters on the U.S. team.
TENNIS
LAJOLA FALLS IN ENGLAND
Croatia's Nikola Mektic and Vedran Siljegovic ended the quest of Hawai'i's Dennis Lajola for a junior grand slam title when they defeated Lajola and his partner, Christian Vitulli of Kenya, 6-4, 6-4, yesterday at Wimbledon.
Lajola and Vitulli were unseeded in the doubles draw.
