Posted on: Wednesday, September 3, 2008
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Weber State gearing up for homecoming
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
When Ron McBride and his Weber State football team roll into town tomorrow, more than a few Wildcat players will feel right at home leading up to Saturday's non-conference game at Aloha Stadium.
Weber State, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision team and member of the Big Sky Conference, lists nine players with ties to Hawai'i, including starting quarterback Cameron Higgins.
Higgins, a 2006 Saint Louis graduate from Hawai'i Kai, will get the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends for the first time since his senior season with the Crusaders.
In last week's season-opening win over Montana-Western, Higgins, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound sophomore, was 17 of 27 for 286 yards in a 62-6 win. He threw touchdown passes of 3 and 28 yards with no interceptions.
McBride, who was head coach at Utah for 13 seasons from 1990 to 2002, has a long history of recruiting from Hawai'i and the Pacific.
One of his coaches is former Baldwin standout Chad Kauha'aha'a, who coaches the defensive line. Kauha'aha'a was the head coach at Baldwin from 2002 to 2004.
MORE FOOTBALL
Oregon State sophomore safety Suaesi Tuimaunei (Kahuku '06 of La'ie) had five solo tackles in a 36-28 loss at Stanford Thursday. Cornerback Brandon Hardin (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) and linebacker David Pa'aluhi (Wai'anae '07 of Wai'anae) — both freshmen — had one tackle apiece. Stanford sophomore defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo (Campbell '07 of 'Ewa Beach) had two tackles. Oregon State visits Penn State this week before hosting Hawai'i on Sept. 13.
Utah sophomore linebacker Nai Fotu (Kahuku '07 of La'ie) had seven tackles, including 2 1/2 for losses, and one sack in a 25-23 win at Michigan Saturday. Junior linebacker Kepa Gaison (Kamehameha '05 of Kane'ohe) had two tackles and broke up a pass.
Southern California senior linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '05 of Wailuku) had six tackles, including one for a loss, in a 52-7 win at Virginia Saturday.
California junior defensive end Tyson Alualu (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) started and had three tackles and two quarterback hurries in a 38-31 win over Michigan State.
San Diego State junior wide receiver Waika Spencer (Kamehameha '05 of Honolulu) had two receptions for 17 yards in a 29-27 loss to Cal Poly.
Colorado sophomore Michael Sipili (Damien '06 of Honolulu) started at weakside linebacker and collected four tackles in a 38-17 win over Colorado State Sunday.
Oregon sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) entered in the second quarter of Saturday's Pac-10 game against Washington and completed 9 of 17 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-10 win in Eugene, Ore. Masoli also ran four times for 23 yards. Senior Max Unger (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Honauna) started at left tackle for Oregon while senior Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Waikoloa) started at defensive end for Washington.
UNLV sophomore defensive lineman Malo Taumua ('Aiea '05 of Honolulu) had two tackles and broke up a pass in a 27-17 win over Utah State Saturday.
Brigham Young freshman receiver Spencer Hafoka (Kahuku '05 of Kahuku) caught one pass for five yards in a 41-17 win over Northern Iowa. Senior punter C.J. Santiago (Saint Louis '04 of Honolulu) punted three times for a 42.7 yard average. Junior defensive lineman Ian Dulan (Kamehameha-Hawai'i '06 of Hilo) had four tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Idaho sophomore linebacker Jojo Dickson (Baldwin '07 of Wailuku) had four tackles in Saturday's 70-0 loss at Arizona.
Southern Utah freshman wide receiver Jared Ursua (Kealakehe '04 of Kailua, Kona) caught one pass for six yards in Saturday's 41-7 loss at Air Force. Senior safety Mike Kaniho (Kealakehe '04 of Lahaina) made one tackle.
Montana-Western freshman quarterback Micah Mamiya (Saint Louis '08 of Honolulu) completed 2 of 8 passes for seven yards in a 62-6 loss at Weber State Saturday. Junior running back Kekoa Perbera (Mililani '06 of Mililani) caught three passes for 19 yards and sophomore wide receiver Pono Mathews (Kaua'i '07 of Lihu'e) caught one pass for six yards and returned five kickoffs for 90 yards. Sophomore safety Scott Keiter-Charles (Castle '07 of Kane'ohe) had three tackles and sophomore defensive lineman Aaron Azevedo (Waiakea '06 of Hilo) added 2 1/2.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Saint Mary's (Calif.) sophomore setter Kapua Kamana'o ('Iolani '07 of Honolulu) had 113 assists in three matches over the weekend as the Gaels beat UC Davis, Cal State Bakersfield and Fresno State. She also had five kills, 23 digs, five blocks and an ace. Junior middle blocker Megan Burton ('Iolani '06 of Kapolei) had 15 kills and 10 blocks in three matches and freshman outside hitter Chanteal Satele (Word of Life '08 of Mililani) had 11 kills and three digs in Saturday's sweep of CSU-Bakersfield.
Texas freshman libero Sydney Yogi (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) had three digs in a sweep of No. 4 Southern California Friday and six digs in a five-game loss to No. 2 Stanford Sunday at the AVCA Showcase in Omaha, Neb.
St. John's (N.Y.) senior libero Lena Yee (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) had 39 digs in three matches at the Cal Molten Classic in Berkeley, Calif. The Red Storm dropped its first two matches, against the host Golden Bears Friday and to UC Santa Barbara Saturday, but rebounded with a win over San Jose State Sunday. Sophomore defensive specialist Kayla Motoyama (Roosevelt '07 of Honolulu) appeared in two matches and had one dig.
San Jose State junior libero Kristal Tsukano (Kamehameha '06 of Hono-lulu) had 29 digs, six assists and one kill as the Spartans went 1-2 at the Sheraton Four Points Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Ariz. last weekend. SJSU won its opening match over Gardner Webb, but dropped matches to Arizona and Weber State. Sophomore outside hitter Brianna Amian (Moanalua '07 of Honolulu) had 18 kills with 16 digs, three blocks and two assists in three matches.
Boston College freshman outside hitter Jordan Meredith (Kamehameha '08 of Honolulu) had 11 kills, eight digs, one block, one ace and an assist in Saturday's four-game loss to Kent State. Freshman outside hitter Brennan Clark (University High '08 of Mililani) had 14 digs and two assists for the Eagles. Meredith had 13 kills, three digs and an ace in a four-game win over Colgate and Clark added 16 digs and an assist. BC went 2-1 at the Colgate Classic.
Nevada sophomore outside hitter Kylie Harrington (Saint Francis '07 of Honolulu) had 22 kills, 28 digs, three blocks and two aces in three matches at the Notre Dame Tournament last weekend. Nevada lost to Valparaiso and the host Fighting Irish, but beat IPFW to claim third. Freshman reserve setter Tatiana Santiago (Kamehameha '08 of Kahuku) had 12 assists, two kills and three digs in two matches.
Western Nebraska freshman Kaleinani Kabalis (Moanalua '08 of Hilo) picked up All-Tournament honors at last weekend's Salt Lake City Invitational. Kabalis, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter, helped the Cougars go 7-0 at the tournament and 15-0 overall.
Whitworth freshman outside hitter Kaimi Rocha (Seabury Hall '08 of Pukalani) was named Most Valuable Player of the NYU Labor Day Invitational after leading the Pirates to the tournament title. For the weekend, Rocha had 36 kills, 27 digs, eight service aces and three blocks.
Linfield freshman outside hitter Samantha Lau (Saint Francis '08 of Kailua) had 31 kills to lead the Wildcats in wins over Mills (Calif.), St. Scholastica (Minn.) and Menlo (Calif.) at the George Fox Invitational. She also had 18 digs and three blocks.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Rutgers junior forward Caycie Gusman (Kamehameha '06 of Honolulu) was named Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Week after she scored three goals in wins over Lehigh and Bucknell last weekend. Gusman scored the winning goal in the 37th minute of Friday's win over the Mountain Hawks. She scored her third and fourth goals of the year against the Bison in the 37th and 41st minutes of Sunday's match.
MEN'S SOCCER
Gonzaga junior midfielder Tye Perdido (Seabury Hall '06 of Kula) scored in a 4-1 loss to Creighton Friday. Sophomore midfielder Nick Love (Punahou '06 of Kane'ohe) came off the bench for Gonzaga and sophomore midfielder Jeremy Wittig (Lutheran '06 of Kane'ohe) saw action for the Bluejays.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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