Posted on: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Volleyball players eye final four
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Despite the University of Hawai'i not qualifying for the postseason, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men's volleyball tournament begins this weekend with several local players hoping to help their teams make a run at the final four.
Freshman setter Riley McKibbin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) and Southern California meet defending national champion UC Irvine and junior libero Brent Asuka ('Iolani '05 of 'Aiea) today in a play-in match. The winner will visit second-seed Brigham Young Saturday.
In other quarterfinal matches Saturday: sixth-seed Stanford and its local trio of Kawika Shoji ('Iolani '06 of Honolulu), Spencer McLachlin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) and Jordan Inafuku (Kamehameha '06 of Honolulu) visit third-seed Cal State Northridge and senior outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl (Kamehameha '03 of Pukalani) while No. 5 Pepperdine meets No. 4 UCLA. Top-seeded Long Beach State has a bye into the semifinal round.
The tournament continues next Thursday with the semifinals at Long Beach. The semifinal winners meet April 26 for the tournament title and a berth in the final four, May 1 to 3, at the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine.
Recapping the week for the players from Hawai'i:
Shoji had 52 assists, two kills, six digs, two aces and two block assists in a four-game win over UCLA Friday. Freshman outside hitter McLachlin had 22 kills on 45 attempts with six errors for a .356 hitting percentage. He added seven digs, an ace and five block assists. Freshman libero Inafuku had 11 digs in the win.
Shoji had 45 assists, eight digs, three kills, four aces and three block assists Saturday night in a four-game win over UC Irvine. McLachlin put away 11 kills with six digs and two block assists while Inafuku had 11 digs and three assists.
McKibbin had five assists in a three-game loss to BYU Friday. He had 20 assists, seven digs, two block assists and a kill in Saturday's loss to the Cougars.
Asuka had eight digs in a sweep of Pacific Friday. Asuka also had eight digs in Saturday's loss to Stanford.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Stanford junior Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05 of Pearl City) tied for third at the Peg Barnard Invitational in Stanford, Calif., last weekend. Chun shot an opening round of 72 Friday and followed with a 74 Saturday. She finished 4 over par as the Cardinal won the team title.
Portland State junior Kayla Morinaga (Sacred Hearts '05 of Waipahu) finished in a tie for 47th at the Barnard Invitational. She shot 80-79—159.
Yale senior Lindsay Hong (Punahou '04 of Honolulu) finished in a tie for 35th at the Columbia Invitational in Mamaroneck, N.Y. last weekend. She shot 98-80-79—257.
New Mexico sophomore Britney Choy (Leilehua '06 of Wahiawa) was named Women's Golfer of the Month by the Mountain West Conference for April. Choy is seventh in the MWC with a stroke average of 75.55 per round. MEN'S GOLF
San Francisco junior Kurt Nino (Damien '05 of Honolulu) finished in a tie for 24th at the West Coast Conference Championships, which concluded yesterday at Tacoma, Wash. Nino shot rounds of 75, 75 and 79 to finish at 13-over-par 229.
Gonzaga senior Reyn Tanaka (Mid-Pacific '04 of Kailua) finished 40th at the West Coast event, shooting 81-84-87—252.
SOFTBALL
East Carolina sophomore shortstop Kaui Tom (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 2 for 3 with two doubles, a walk and two runs scored in a 5-3 win over UNC-Wilmington last Wednesday.
Seattle University junior designated hitter/catcher Kaha Weir (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) scored twice in a sweep of Saint Martin's Friday. Weir also had a double and scored a run in a 2-1 loss to Western Oregon Saturday.
BASEBALL
Penn State junior second baseman Landon Nakata (Punahou '05) went 5 for 13 over the weekend as the Nittany Lions dropped three of four to Purdue. Nakata drove in two runs, drew six walks, had two doubles and scored five times in the series.
Southern Utah junior center fielder Nick Freitas (Kamehameha '05 of Honolulu) went 6 for 16 with a home run, double, three RBIs, two walks, two stolen bases and four runs scored last weekend as the Thunderbirds took three games from North Dakota State. Junior third baseman Chester Wilson (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) went 3 for 14 with a double, two RBIs, two walks and two runs scored. Junior infielder Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa Beach) was 2 for 13, but walked four times, stole two bases, drove in a run and scored twice. Sophomore designated hitter Bucky Aona (Punahou '06 of Makakilo) was 3 for 7 with an RBI, walk and run scored.
BYU junior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) went 2 for 5 with a grand slam and five RBIs in an 11-7 win over Washington Saturday. Ko's homer came in a six-run eighth inning for the Cougars, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Pacific sophomore pitcher Ryne Miyamoto (Mililani '06) gave up two hits and struck out one over 1 2/3 innings of a 15-6 win over Corban (Ore.) last week to earn his first career win.
Puget Sound senior shortstop Shaun Kiriu (Punahou '04 of Honolulu) went 3 for 4, with a double, four RBIs and two runs in a 14-13 win over Willamette Saturday. Kiriu went 2 for 5 with an RBI, run and was hit by a pitch in a pair of losses to the Bearcats Sunday.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
Siena junior Lauren Garrigan (Kamehameha '05 of Kailua) scored three goals with three assists in a 17-7 win over Villanova Saturday. Garrigan led all scorers with seven goals in the nightcap, a 19-18 overtime heartbreak to Iona.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Pacific sophomore Lilia Lee (Kamehameha '06 of Waimanalo) scored six goals in a 16-15 win over Linfield last week. Sophomore Mimi Takamune (ASSETS '06 of Mililani) added four goals and junior Shanlyn Souza (Kaua'i '05 of Koloa) had two.
BOXING
Navy boxers Jeff Laupola (Honolulu) and Antone Aku (Kapolei) won the heavyweight and 139-pound division, respectively, at the National Collegiate Boxing Association Championships Saturday in Reno, Nev.
COMMITMENTS
'Iolani senior Taylor Mounts, an Advertiser All-State First-Team selection, has committed to play basketball at Willamette (Ore.), according to his father, John.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
