Posted on: Wednesday, February 27, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
ILH alums have Stanford on a roll
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
John Kosty loves Hawai'i, particularly recruiting in the state.
The second-year Stanford men's volleyball coach has three former Interscholastic League of Honolulu standouts on his Cardinal roster.
Kawika Shoji, a 2006 graduate of 'Iolani, who was named Advertiser State Player of the Year in 2004 — an honor he shared with current Stanford teammate Jordan Inafuku.
Inafuku, a 2006 graduate of Kamehameha, was an all-state selection four years for the Warriors.
Spencer McLachlin, a 2007 Punahou graduate, earned Player of the Year honors in both his junior and senior seasons for the Buffanblu.
"Combined, they bring great volleyball knowledge and skill," Kosty said. "They've played volleyball longer than all of my players currently on the team. They've all played since they were 12-and-under. That amount of volleyball just brings a whole different ability."
An ability that has allowed each to earn a spot in No. 9 Stanford's starting lineup.
"They've had a lot of experience in club and high school volleyball and that's given them the ability to play well as freshmen," Kosty said.
Shoji, who is 6 feet 3, has made the transition back to setter after seeing time at outside hitter as a freshman last season.
"We've asked a lot of him to play as both an outside hitter and setter in both of his first two season," said Kosty. "He's reacted very well to both situations. That experience has helped him grow as a leader on our team."
Shoji had 53 assists and 15 digs Saturday to lead the Cardinal to a sweep of then-No. 1 Brigham Young. It was the Cougars' first loss of the season.
"Kawika played a great game," Kosty said. "He set a really good offense, made some really good choices."
McLachlin, 6-7 freshman outside hitter, had a team-high 16 kills, including match point.
"Spencer had a tremendous weekend statistically," Kosty said.
McLachlin also had 18 kills against just three errors on 37 attempts in Friday's five-game loss to BYU. He had a .405 hitting percentage for the match.
Inafuku, a 6-foot freshman libero, had 11 digs Friday and a team-high 16 Saturday.
"Starting as a freshman in this league and being successful early on, the sky is the limit for both of them," said Kosty of McLachlin and Inafuku. "Both are tremendous volleyball players, but both have room to improve."
Familiar faces have helped the transition for the trio.
Assistant coaches Al Roderigues and Ken Shibuya have been involved with the USA Volleyball Developmental Program, which all three players took part in.
Also, Shoji's sister, Cobey, is the director of volleyball operations for the Stanford women's team.
The Cardinal are 10-6 and 6-6 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Stanford hosts Hawai'i in a pair of MPSF matches today and tomorrow.
MORE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
UC Irvine junior libero Brent Asuka ('Iolani '05 of 'Aiea) had 10 digs and an assist in Wednesday's three-game loss to Cal State Northridge. Senior outside hitter Isaac Kneubuhl (Kamehameha '03 of Pukalani) had 12 kills, four digs, one ace and one assist for the Matadors. Asuka had 12 digs in a three-game sweep of UC Santa Barbara Saturday. Kneubuhl put away 18 kills with six digs, an ace and an assist in a four-game win over UCLA Saturday.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Washington State senior guard Derrick Low ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) scored 15 points with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 59-47 win over Arizona State Thursday. Low had 12 points and four rebounds in Saturday's loss to Arizona.
Lewis and Clark (Portland, Ore.) senior Gene Rivera (Maui '04 of Kahului) scored seven points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had five assists in an 87-67 win over Puget Sound Friday. Rivera had 10 points, two boards, two blocks, one assist and one steal in Saturday's 90-80 loss to Linfield. Sophomore guard Cody Tesoro (Baldwin '05 of Kahului) had a perfect night off the bench for Linfield. He was 5 for 5 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3-pointers and 3 for 3 at the free-throw line to finish with 15 points. Tesoro had 10 points in Friday's win over Pacific Lutheran.
Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colo.) junior guard Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) scored 12 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 66-64 loss to Metro State Friday. Pape had 23 points, two boards, two assists and a steal in Saturday's 77-74 win over Colorado Christian.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Cal State Northridge freshman forward Analee Viena-Lota (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) had four points, five rebounds and a steal in a 73-72 win over Cal State Bakersfield Thursday. Viena-Lota went for two points, five rebounds and a steal in 49-48 loss to Long Beach State Saturday.
SWIMMING & DIVING
UC Irvine senior Chelsea Nagata (Maui '04 of Kahului) won the 100-yard butterfly at last weekend's Big West Conference championships for the fourth time. Her time was 53.20. Nagata was also a member of the 400-yard medley relay team that finished second in a time of 3:45.14, an Anteaters' record. Nagata was fifth in the 50-yard freestyle (23.55). She was also on the winning 800-yard freestyle relay team that broke a school record in a time of 7:21.43.
BASEBALL
Brigham Young junior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) was 2 for 4 with a double and run scored in a 4-2 season-opening win over Portland.
Central Arizona sophomore outfielder C.J. Johnson ('Iolani '06) was 2 for 2 with a double, walk and two runs scored in a 3-0 win over Scottsdale Saturday. Johnson was 2 for 4 with two walks and a run scored in the second game of the doubleheader, a 7-5 loss.
Wahiawa's Troy Hanzawa (Mid-Pacific '03), a senior shortstop for San Diego State, batted 9 for 20 with a double, triple, stolen base and six RBIs to help the Aztecs take 3 of 4 from crosstown rival San Diego. The previously unranked Aztecs (3-1) jumped to No. 22 in Baseball America's Top 25, while the Toreros (1-3) dropped from No. 11 to No. 17. The rankings were released based on games through Sunday and before the Aztecs won the series Monday with a 7-1 victory.
Kailua's Wally Marciel ('Iolani '06), a sophomore left-handed starting pitcher for Kansas, won his team's season opener, a 2-1 victory against Hawai'i-Hilo in Kona last Friday. Marciel pitched six innings, allowing a run, five hits and a walk with four strikeouts. But the Vulcans took three of five in the series.
Landon Nakata (Punahou '05), a junior shortstop at Penn State, batted 3 for 10 with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base, in a three-game series at High Point (N.C.). But the Panthers won the series, 2-1.
Chester Wilson (Saint Louis '05), a junior first baseman for Southern Utah, batted 4 for 5 with a double in a 12-8 win against Central Michigan. Wilson then went 3 for 4 with a homer in a 6-1 win against Division II Dixie State on Monday.
Nick Freitas (Kamehameha '05) transferred from Miami (Fla.) to Southern Utah and is the starting center fielder. He homered in his first game with his new team in the win against CMU. 'Ewa Beach's Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05), a second baseman for Southern Utah, went 2 for 4 with a double and triple with four RBIs in the CMU game.
SOFTBALL
Tennessee sophomore outfielder Anita Manuma (Campbell '06 of 'Ewa Beach) went 5 for 14 at the plate last week to help the No. 8 Lady Vols go 5-0 and win the Tennessee Classic. Manuma was 2 for 3 against Virginia Friday with a home run and four RBIs.
East Carolina sophomore outfielder Charina Sumner (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) went 2 for 4 with a stolen base in a 4-3 win over Syracuse Saturday in the Pirate Classic. Sophomore third baseman Cristen Aona (Punahou '06 of Kapolei) was 3 for 4 with an RBI and sophomore shortstop Kaui Tom (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) reached base once and scored two runs. Sumner was 2 for 4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 9-3 loss to Penn State. Tom went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Stanford junior Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05 of Pearl City) is tied for sixth place headed into today's final round of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz. Chun, who shot a 2-under-par 69 Monday, one stroke behind leader Amanda Blumenhurst of Duke, stumbled with a 6-over-par 77 yesterday. New Mexico sophomore Britney Choy (Leilehua '06 of Wahiawa) is tied for 45th at 13-over-par.
COMMITMENTS
Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, Calif.) running back Andrew Nakihei (Maui '04 of Kihei) has signed with Lindenwood (St. Charles, Mo.).
Saddleback College defensive back Mikah Pada (Kealakehe '05 of Kailua, Kona) has signed with Wagner College (Staten Island, N.Y.).
San Jose City College offensive lineman Shaun DelaCalzada (Kaimuki '06) has signed with Northern State (Aberdeen, S.D.).
HONORS
D.J. Tano ('Iolani '03 of Honolulu) has been named assistant track and field coach at Redlands (Calif.). Tano was a first-team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference center in football last season. He also captured back-to-back SCIAC championships in the shot put. Tano, who earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, is working toward a Master of Arts in educational administration.
Menlo (Atherton, Calif.) senior basketball player Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04 of Honolulu) was the recipient of the Richard O'Brien Award for the second consecutive year. The award is given to one who best exemplifies the true spirit of the Menlo campus through all-around excellence, according to the Oaks' Web site.
WATER POLO
Siena freshman Nicole Hagi (Kapolei '07) was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rookie of the week on Feb. 19. She had four goals and three assists in four losses to start the season. Lauren Garrigan (Kamehameha '05) also plays for Siena.
Hoku Nohara
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| Nohara honored |
Waimanalo's Hoku Nohara, a freshman first baseman for the New Mexico State softball team, was named Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
Nohara (Kamehameha 2007) was named Most Valuable Player of the Troy Cox Classic softball tournament sponsored by NMSU over the weekend. She batted 8 for 13 with two home runs, a triple and two doubles with nine RBIs to help the Aggies win the tournament with a 5-0 record.
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Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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