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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, January 30, 2009

WAC eyes neutral sites for tourneys

Advertiser Staff

A Western Athletic Conference task force has formally recommended that this year's WAC Volleyball Tournament be moved to The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and the 2010 WAC Baseball Tournament be played in Mesa, Ariz.

The University of Hawai'i, which hosted the last volleyball championship in November, will still host the conference baseball championship this May.

The changes put both tournaments at neutral sites. Each tournament would have a six-team field — down from nine teams in volleyball. All changes still have to be approved at the WAC Council meeting in May.

According to UH associate athletic director Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, who is on the task force, the changes were approved to cut costs, provide a neutral competition site and continue the tournaments. The new sites would cut airfares and hotel bills and, ideally, provide a "fun fan experience."

The price for a room Nov. 23 to 25 — the tentative volleyball tournament dates — was $38 yesterday on The Orleans' Web site.

Both tournaments are currently hosted on a rotation basis. This year's volleyball was to be at Boise State, with 2010 at Louisiana Tech.