University of Hawai'i shortstop Jessica Iwata has been named Verizon Western Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week.

Iwata, a freshman from Kaua'i, batted .600 (12 for 20) with six home runs, including a pair of grand slams, and 17 RBIs in five games against Utah State and Boise State.

She had a 1.600 slugging percentage and .636 on-base percentage, and her eight RBIs in a 12-1 win over Boise State Saturday set a school record and tied a WAC mark. Her three home runs in that game also tied UH and WAC records.

Iwata is batting .398 (51 for 128) with 13 home runs, 41 RBIs and a team-high 16 doubles.

Louisiana Tech's Meghan Krieg was named the Pitcher of the Week, after going 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA.

UH hosts LaTech this weekend, with a single game Friday and a doubleheader Saturday.

SURFING

ISLE SURFERS ADVANCE

Hawai'i surfers Melanie Bartels, Coco Ho and Carissa Moore advanced to the third round of the TSB Bank Women's Surfing Festival contest yesterday at New Zealand.

The first and second rounds were run in 3-foot waves at Taranaki, New Zealand.

Ho was one of the standouts of the first round, receiving a two-wave score of 15.3. As a first-round winner, she earned a bye in the second round.

"I'm definitely looking to make an impact this season," Ho said. "I'm no longer a rookie and I am looking at every heat as a chance to perform."

Ho is scheduled to face Moore in the third round.

Ho won the 2009 ASP Women's Rookie of the Year award. Moore, who is a senior at Punahou School, is the leading contender for 2010 women's rookie of the year.

Bartels is scheduled to face Brazil's Bruna Schmitz in the third round.

The contest is the third stop on the 2010 ASP Women's World Tour.

VOLLEYBALL

U.S. SECOND TO CUBA

The U.S. Boys' Youth National team, with Kamehameha junior Micah Christenson, finished second Sunday at the NORCECA Boys' Youth (19-under) Continental Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Cuba swept the U.S., 25-16, 25-18, 25-22, in the final and qualified for the 2011 Youth Olympic Games, which are in Singapore this August.

Christenson, the U.S. captain, scored three points on one kill and two blocks and was also credited with 10 "excellent sets" on 74 attempts.

Cuba finished the tournament 5-0, while the U.S. was 3-2, with the only losses coming to Cuba.

Cuba and the U.S. also qualified for the FIVB Boys' Youth World Championship.

GOLF

UH MEN TRAILING

The University of Hawai'i men's team shot rounds of 314 and 311 and was in last place yesterday in the U.S. Intercollegiate at Palo Alto, Calif.

The Warriors are at 65-over 625. Third-ranked Washington leads the 20-team field with 2-over 562.

Sophomore TJ Kua tops UH after rounds of 74 and 75 put him in a tie for 55th at 9-over. Washington's Nick Taylor leads with 4-under 136.