ISLE FILE
Bown helps U.S. women's volleyball team beat Japan
Advertiser Staff and teamusa.org
The U.S. women's national indoor volleyball team, with help from three players with Hawaii ties, defeated host Japan, 26-28, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11, yesterday at the FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round in Yokohama, Japan.
Former University of Hawai'i All-American Heather Bown, who started at middle blocker, had nine kills, four blocks and two aces. Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, another ex-UH All-American, added 18 assists and six digs while Punahou alum Lindsey Berg contributed 14 assists as the starting setter.
Danielle Scott-Arruda led Team USA with 17 kills and a match-high five blocks.
Both the U.S. and Japan have qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games, and the two countries will meet on the opening day of pool play on Aug. 9.
"First of all we are very happy to get this win," Berg said. "Every game this week is a difficult game. Japan is very strong, a very fast and quick team, and when you play them at home they are even stronger. It is also very important for us because Japan is in the same pool at the Olympics, and the more practice we get against them the better we will be for the Olympics."
Trailing two games to one, the U.S. team built a 21-14 lead in the fourth game, but needed to weather a 5-0 run to win.
Team USA then scored three straight points in the fifth game to assume a 9-7 lead, before using another 3-0 run to build a 14-10 margin in winning the match.
The U.S. team plays Cuba today before finishing with matches against Italy and China.
SURFING
BRUCE BEATS ANDY
Hawai'i surfers Bruce Irons, Fred Patacchia Jr. and Roy Powers won their respective first-round heats in the Billabong Pro J-Bay men's contest yesterday.
The first round was completed in 3- to 4-foot waves at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.
Irons defeated his older brother, Andy Irons, in the first round. Patacchia had one of the best heats of the day, receiving a two-wave total score of 16.27 (out of 20).
As first-round winners, Bruce Irons, Patacchia and Powers advanced directly to the third round.
Fellow Hawai'i surfers Andy Irons, Granger Larsen and Pancho Sullivan did not win their respective first-round heats and will surf in the second round.
Larsen, who turned professional last month, was invited to the contest as a sponsor's wildcard. He is scheduled to face Andy Irons in the second round.
BASKETBALL
BIG ISLAND GIRLS WIN
Hawai'i Big Island NJB captured the girls 13-under division of the 2008 Swoosh/NJB Tournament in Las Vegas last month.
The Big Island team, coached by Bobbie Awa and Dominic Pacheco, defeated the Las Vegas Knicks, 46-32, in the title game. Ciera Pacheco scored 14 points and Makayla Awa 11.
LOW'S TEAM ON TV
The Dallas Mavericks, with 'Iolani alum Derrick Low, will play the Los Angeles Clippers today in an NBA summer league game in Las Vegas.
The game, which is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Hawai'i time, will be carried on NBATV — a premium channel available on Oceanic digital 242. It may also be accessed online at the NBA's Web site.
Low, a rookie free agent point guard out of Washington State, is on the Mavericks' 15-player summer league roster.
