ISLE FILE
Shoji helps U.S. sweep Mexico for bronze medal
Advertiser Staff, avp.com, teamusa.org
The U.S. Men's Junior National Team, led by recent Punahou School graduate Erik Shoji, defeated Mexico, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19, yesterday to win the bronze medal at the 2008 NORCECA Continental Men's Junior Championship in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Cuba defeated Canada in the gold-medal match, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21, 29-27.
Shoji was named the tournament's Best Defender, Best Receiver and Best Libero.
Shoji was credited with 12 "excellent" digs and 13 "excellent" service receptions against Mexico. Tri Bourne, a 2007 Academy of the Pacific graduate, had five points while recent 'Iolani graduate Brad Lawson did not play after injuring an ankle earlier in the tournament.
Austin Ellis had 12 points and Murphy Troy 11 for the U.S.
"This is a good win against a talented Mexican team," said U.S. head coach Shawn Patchell. "The guys got better throughout the week and I was especially pleased with our captain, Murphy Troy and Tri Bourne for the tournament. Joe Sunder came off the bench, and along with the play of Erik Shoji gave us momentum to pull out the bronze medal."
METZGER'S TEAM WINS
Punahou alum Stein Metzger teamed with Mark Williams to beat Anthony Medel and Fred Souza, 21-17, 21-15, yesterday in the championship match of the AVP Crocs Slam Boulder pro beach volleyball tournament at Boulder, Colo.
"We got them right off the bat, and just stuck with it and it worked," Metzger said.
Earlier in the day, No. 9 seeds Scott Wong and Aaron Wachtfogel upset top seeds Kevin Wong and Matt Olson, 21-17, 21-18, in the quarterfinals. It marked the 16th time the Wong brothers from Hawai'i have faced each other on the tour with each now winning eight times.
MAUNALANI PREVAILS
Maunalani 14-Third Degree of Honolulu defeated TVC 14-1 (Sylvania, Ohio), 25-17, 27-25, to win the National Division for 14-year-olds at the 29th USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championships in Dallas.
Maunalani beat ClubOne 14 Gold (Greeley, Colo.), 25-20, 24-26, 15-12, in the semifinals and topped Vision 14 Blue (Los Gatos, Calif.), 26-24, 25-16, in the quarterfinals.
GOLF
KONO TOPS QUALIFIERS
Recent Punahou School graduate Stephanie Kono shot a 1-under-par 71 yesterday to win a U.S. Women's Amateur Sectional Qualifier on the Kings' Course at Waikoloa Beach Resort.
Mari Chun, a 2005 Kamehameha alum and Stanford student, and Cyna Rodriguez, of the Philippines, each shot 74 to earn the other two berths to the Aug. 4 to 10 nationals in Oregon.
