Posted on: Wednesday, December 3, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
NCAA volleyball teams blessed with Hawaii talent
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i will be well-represented in the upcoming NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championships with at least one team in each of the four regions carrying a player from the Islands.
The highest-seeded team with a local tie is national No. 3 seed Texas (25-3), which plays Lamar Friday in Austin. Texas freshman libero Sydney Yogi (Punahou '08, of Honolulu) has appeared in 64 sets in limited action with 55 digs, eight assists and one kill.
Also in the Longhorns' regional is San Francisco (22-7), which plays Duke Friday in Los Angeles. Freshman outside hitter Leinani Keanini ('Iolani '08, of Kailua) has recorded 18 kills, 53 digs, eight service aces and three blocks in 52 games for the Dons this season.
Fifth seed Washington (24-4) will host the Seattle regional and meets Portland State Friday. Junior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05, of Kane'ohe) was named to the Pac-10 First Team last week. She leads the league in digs per set (5.17) and needs 243 digs to break the Huskies' all-time record.
Washington could meet Santa Clara (17-9) in the second round. The Broncos player Kansas State Friday. Senior outside hitter Michelle Luxton (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) had not appeared in any matches this season.
Saint Mary's (Calif.) will play New Mexico State Friday in Berkeley, Calif. in the State College, Pa. regional. Sophomore setter Kapua Kamana'o ('Iolani '07, of Honolulu) has started all 27 matches, averaging 11.6 assists and 1.86 digs per set for Saint Mary's. Junior middle blocker Megan Burton ('Iolani '06, of Kapolei) is averaging just over one block per set and freshman outside hitter Chanteal Satele (Word of Life '08, of Mililani) has put away 2.4 kills per set for the Gaels (20-7). Kamana'o and Burton were named First-Team All-West Coast Conference and Satele earned All-Freshmen Team honors.
Should Saint Mary's beat the Aggies, it will play the winner of No. 8 California and Siena. Junior defensive specialist Kau'i Robello (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) is averaging just under three digs per set and 20 aces while senior libero Kathi Kobayashi (Punahou '05 of 'Aiea) is averaging 2.3 digs per set for Siena (20-12).
In the Fort Collins, Colo. regional, Pepperdine (20-7) and Long Beach State (25-5) meet in Palo Alto, Calif. Friday. Sophomore setter Kealohilani Kea (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) is dishing out just over 10 assists per set for the Waves (20-7). Freshman defensive specialist Lauren Minkel ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) has 214 digs in 115 sets for the 49ers (25-5).
MORE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Central Washington sophomore libero Brandie Vea (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II All-West Region First Team. Vea set a school record with 626 digs (6.1 per set). She also set a Great Northwest Conference record with 50 digs in a four-set win over Sonoma State.
Adelphi (N.Y.) sophomore setter Heather Mau (Maryknoll '07) had 29 assists, nine digs and three kills in a four-set loss to Dowling in the first round of the NCAA Div. II Northeast Regional. The Panthers ended their season with a record of 27-12.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Colorado School of Mines senior guard Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) scored a team-high 16 points with four rebounds, two steals and an assist in Friday's 62-60 loss to Northwest Nazarene. Pape led his team with 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in Saturday's 74-59 win over Newman.
Lewis & Clark (Ore.) junior guard Tyler Tsukazaki (Maryknoll '06 of Honolulu) scored 10 points off the bench in 23 minutes in Saturday's 90-61 win over Portland Bible.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
UNLV freshman guard/forward Jamie Smith ('Iolani '08 of Kailua) had nine points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in a 75-63 loss at Texas Tech last night. In Saturday's 76-65 win over Cal State Fullerton, she had seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks, one steal and an assist. In Friday's 70-69 overtime loss to Eastern Washington, she had two points, eight rebounds, two blocks and an assist.
Pepperdine senior forward Taylor Smith (Kalaheo '05 of Kailua) had five points, three steals, one assist and a rebound in Friday's 54-36 win over Coppin State. Smith scored nine points with five rebounds, one steal and an assist in Saturday's 70-60 loss to Texas A&M.
Cal State Northridge sophomore forward Analee Viena-Lota (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) scored four points with two rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in a 96-53 loss to UCLA Sunday.
Washington University (Mo.) senior guard Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) had seven points, four assists and three rebounds in a 96-73 win over Whittier Saturday. In Sunday's 83-54 win over Carthage, Dacanay had a game-high 10 assists and five points in 16 minutes off the bench.
Concordia (Calif.) sophomore guard Nicole Fu (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) had 16 points, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals in Friday's 94-55 win over Marygrove.
Willamette (Ore.) freshman guard Dayna Jandoc ('Iolani '08 of Honolulu) scored seven points with two rebounds, two assists and two steals in Friday's 84-53 loss to College of Idaho. Freshman guard Tiana Abbley ('Kamehameha '08 of Honolulu) added four points, three assists and a rebound for the Bearcats. Abbley scored five points in a 68-48 loss to Eastern Oregon Saturday.
Cal Lutheran senior guard Cheryl Lee (Maryknoll '05 of Honolulu) had six points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 70-48 loss to Chapman Saturday. Lee had five points, three boards, two steals and an assist in Sunday's 71-63 loss to Northland.
FOOTBALL
Southern California senior linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) had a team-high five tackles, including one for a loss, and intercepted a pass in Saturday's 38-3 rout of Notre Dame.
Oregon sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) passed for 274 yards and three touchdowns in a 65-38 win over Oregon State Saturday. He also rushed 12 times for 53 yards and another score. Freshman linebacker David Pa'aluhi (Kamehameha '07 of Wai'anae) had two tackles and safeties Al Afalava (Kahuku '05 of La'ie) and Suaesi Tuimaunei (Kahuku '06 of La'ie) had a tackle apiece for the Beavers.
Weber State sophomore quarterback Cameron Higgins (Saint Louis '06 of Hawai'i Kai) threw for 399 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-35 win over Cal Poly Saturday as the Wildcats advanced to the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision tournament. Junior wide receiver Cody Nakamura (Baldwin '05 of Wailuku) caught a 9-yard touchdown pass for the Wildcats (10-3), who play at Montana this weekend. Last week, Higgins was named Offensive MVP by the Big Sky Conference after helping Weber State to a share of the Big Sky title. Also recognized were senior guard Lawai'a Naihe (Kapa'a '02 of Anahola) to the first team, Nakamura to the second team and freshman defensive tackle Ryan Eastman (Saint Louis '08 of Honolulu) to the honorable mention list.
Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) freshman defensive back Manoa Latu (Saint Louis '08) had five tackles, including one for a loss, and intercepted a pass in Saturday's 34-27 win over Fullerton. Mt. SAC (11-1) will play College of the Canyons (12-0) in the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California championship. Sophomore defensive back Zach Santos (Saint Louis '07) had five tackles, sophomore linebacker Makana Atisanoe (Kailua '07) had three stops and sophomore defensive back Nick Tepea (Kailua '07) one in Saturday's 36-27 win over El Camino for Canyons.
Freshman Mana Ohia ('Aiea '07 of Honolulu), a linebacker at The Apprentice School (Va.), was named Rookie of the Year by the Atlantic Central Football Conference. Ohia had 44 tackles (eight for losses), two sacks and blocked two kicks this season.
Saint Francis (Pa.) junior center Cody Kekipi (Punahou '06 of Waimanalo) was named first team All-Northeast Conference.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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