Posted on: Wednesday, May 6, 2009
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Asuka, UC Irvine dig in for Final Four
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the UC Irvine men's volleyball team, this weekend's at-large berth into the NCAA Final Four at Provo, Utah is a second chance.
The Anteaters sat atop the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation standings for most of the season and entered the conference postseason tournament as the top seed and No. 1 team in the nation, but a semifinal loss to USC left their season in limbo.
"We were all pretty worried before the announcement," said senior libero Brent Asuka, a 2005 'Iolani School graduate. "It was definitely a relief to get the at-large berth."
The loss was just the fifth this season for UC Irvine and just the second time it was swept — not since a Jan. 9 loss to Long Beach State.
"We're lucky to be in," Asuka said. "We all thought it was a 50-50 chance, but we're grateful to be getting another shot."
UC Irvine (25-5) is the top seed and will meet No. 4 seed Ohio State (16-10) in a national semifinal tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. Hawai'i time on ESPNU. It will follow the first semifinal between USC (20-10) and Penn State (27-3) at 3 p.m. The semifinal winners meet Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN2 for the national championship.
The Trojans will be led by sophomore setter Riley McKibbin, a 2007 Punahou graduate, and sophomore outside hitter Tri Bourne, a 2007 Academy of the Pacific graduate.
The Anteaters will have experience on their side. UC Irvine is making its third Final Four appearance in four years, having won it all in 2007.
"Playing in the Final Four is pretty nerve-racking, but it's also pretty exciting," Asuka said. "We have five guys that were on that (2007) team and I'm sure that no matter what we tell the (younger) guys, they'll be nervous. I guess once we step onto the court, our leadership will have to take over."
Asuka, a business administration major, averaged a team-best 2.69 digs per set and recorded 264 digs this season. The former walk-on will leave as the program's career leader in digs.
"My time at UC Irvine has been pretty good," Asuka said. "But, right now my only focus is on Ohio State."
MORE MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
USC sophomore setter Riley McKibbin (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 42 assists, seven digs, one kill and an ace in an MPSF semifinal win over UC Irvine Thursday. Sophomore outside hitter Tri Bourne (Academy of the Pacific '07 of Honolulu) had five kills and six digs. In Saturday's tournament final against Pepperdine, McKibbin recorded 68 assists, 14 digs, one kill, one ace and was in on four blocks in a five-set win. The scores were 30-23, 30-25, 20-30, 26-30 and 21-19. Bourne added 10 kills, 10 digs, five block assists and an ace.
BASEBALL
Northwestern freshman pitcher Michael Jahns (St. Anthony '08 of Kihei) pitched three scoreless innings of relief in a 7-2 loss to Milwaukee Wednesday. Freshman first baseman Paul Snieder (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) hit his fourth home run of the season in a 15-12 loss to Illinois Saturday. Snieder was 3 for 5 with three runs scored.
Brigham Young senior first baseman Kasey Ko (Punahou '05 of Kailua) batted 3 for 4 with two solo homers in a 10-inning 9-8 loss at No. 10 Kansas State Monday. The Cougars scored four runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth to send it to extra innings.
Southern Utah senior second baseman Keli'i Zablan (Saint Louis '05 of 'Ewa Beach) batted 2 for 4 with two RBIs in a 14-5 loss to Oklahoma Monday.
Oregon Tech junior second baseman Ryson Mauricio (Kamehameha '06 of Mililani) batted 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in a 7-6 win over British Columbia Monday. Junior infielder Dustin Kim Seu (Pearl City '06) drove in two runs for the Owls.
SOFTBALL
East Carolina junior shortstop Kaui Tom (Kamehameha '06 of Kailua) hit a three-run, walk-off home run in the eighth inning of a 5-2 win over Campbell Saturday. Junior left fielder Marina Gusman-Brown (Pearl City '06 of 'Ewa Beach) batted 2 for 2 with two stolen bases. Gusman-Brown drove in two runs, Tom went 2 for 3 and junior third baseman Cristen Aona (Punahou '06 of Kapolei) batted 3 for 4 in Sunday's 5-3 win over Virginia Tech.
Mississippi State freshman left fielder Ka'ili Smith (Kapolei '08) hit a two-run single in the second inning of an 8-0 win over Ole Miss Saturday. Smith also doubled and scored in the fourth.
California sophomore catcher Sanoe Kekahuna (Baldwin '07) had an RBI double in a 4-2 win over Arizona State Saturday.
New Mexico State sophomore catcher Hoku Nohara (Kamehameha '07 of Waimanalo) hit a solo homer in a 5-3 loss to Louisiana Tech Friday. Nohara was 2 for 2 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Bulldogs.
UNLV senior Cheynah Farley (Castle '06 of Kane'ohe) batted 2 for 4 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in a 14-4 win over Utah Friday. Farley went 1 for 3 with a run scored in Saturday's 12-8 win over the Utes. Utah senior shortstop Sharee Fonoti (Kamehameha '04 of 'Ewa Beach) scored a run in each game.
Missouri Valley senior shortstop Kimberly Fuller (Roosevelt '05 of Honolulu) hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in Sunday's Heart of America Athletic Conference championship final against Central Methodist. Junior second baseman Sydney Kaneshiro (Kailua '06 of Honolulu) hit a solo homer in the second inning. The Vikings won the game 3-2 and the series, 2-1. MVC earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament, May 14-20 in Decatur, Ala.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
Occidental (Calif.) sophomore attacker Karie Nickle (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) scored three goals in an 11-5 win over Grove City College Friday. Nickle added four goals in a 15-7 win over Macalester College later that day.
Cal Lutheran freshman utility Jane Galuzzi (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) scored two goals in a 7-0 win over Cal Tech Friday in the first round of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in Claremont, Calif. The Regals went on to win the SCIAC title with an 8-7 win over Pomona-Pitzer. Cal Lutheran (19-12) will meet top-seeded USC (24-1) in a first-round game Friday. Stanford sophomore goalkeeper Kim Hall (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) and the second-seeded Cardinal (24-3) meet No. 7 Marist (18-13) in another first-round game while No. 4 Hawai'i (18-8) plays No. 5 LMU (24-7) and No. 3 UCLA (22-6) plays No. 6 Michigan (33-8) in the other first-round games. Senior utility Kellen Fletcher (Punahou '05 of Honolulu), sophomore utility Katie Fletcher (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) and sophomore driver Sasha Fuller (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) play for LMU.
HONORS
George Fox (Ore.) senior infielder Kerstyn Tsuruda (Kalaheo '05 of Waimanalo) was named to the All-Northwest Conference softball second team. Lewis and Clark (Ore.) senior Sheree Miura (St. Andrew's '05 of Waipahu) earned Honorable Mention.
Pacific (Ore.) freshmen tennis players Cat Goya (St. Andrew's '08 of Kane'ohe) and Megan Yoshimoto (Mililani '08) were named to the All-Northwest Conference Team. Goya was a first-team selection and Yoshimoto made the second team.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2404.
SEND US PHOTOS
If you know of any athletes deserving recognition, give us their names, high schools and graduation years, colleges and sports. Photos are also welcome. E-mail us at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com or contact Kalani Takase at 535-2404.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
