Posted on: Wednesday, December 5, 2007
HOMEGROWN REPORT
Hawaii-fueled St. John's into NCAA volleyball Sweet 16
By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer
As the NCAA Division I Volleyball Tournament enters its second weekend, just one team with Hawai'i ties has survived the rigors of the 64-team bracket.
St. John's (New York City), which has junior libero Lena Yee (Moanalua '05 of Honolulu) and freshman defensive specialist Kayla Motoyama (Roosevelt '07 of Honolulu), defeated Long Island and Delaware in the first and second rounds, respectively, and meets No. 5 Southern California Friday in Gainesville, Fla., in the Sweet 16.
"It's been incredible," said Red Storm head coach Joanne Persico-Smith. "We had 1,200 here for (Long Island) and 1,000 for (Delaware). It's just been thrilling, really exciting."
Yee, the two-time Big East Conference Libero of the Year, had 12 digs against Long Island and a match-high 30 against Delaware. She added four aces in the two matches.
"It's been really amazing. We were (Big East) co-champs with Louisville and won the (conference) tournament for the first time. We're going from one goal to the next, but now's the most important time," Yee said.
Said Persico-Smith of her libero: "Lena never takes a play off. She is the most consistent player day in and day out. She plays a huge role on this team and is always working hard to get better."
This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. USC beat St. John's in four games Aug. 25 in Los Angeles.
The 15th-ranked Red Storm are making their first appearance in the Sweet 16.
"It's been a long time coming," said Persico-Smith, who is the only coach in school history. "We started this program from scratch, I remember shaking Dave Shoji's hand in Hawai'i and saying 'I hope one day I can feel what it feels like to get to the Sweet 16.' "
MORE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Seven teams with Hawai'i ties were eliminated in the first round and sixth-seed Washington was dispatched by Brigham Young in the second round.
Washington sophomore libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05 of Kane'ohe) had 39 digs in a five-game win over Missouri and followed with 13 in a five-game loss to the Cougars. Senior defensive specialist Ashley Aratani ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) had five digs against the Tigers.
Santa Clara junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Michelle Luxton (Punahou '05 of Honolulu) appeared in one game in the Broncos' three-game loss to top-seeded Stanford, but did not log any statistics.
Pepperdine (Malibu, Calif.) senior middle blocker Lecca Roberts (Seabury Hall '04 of Kula) had six kills and one solo block in the Waves' three-game loss to USC.
UNLV lost in five games to Long Beach State, but freshmen Kela Lau Hee (Kamehameha-Maui '07 of Pukalani) and Saulie-Ann Wong (Waimea '07 of Hanapepe) did not appear in the match.
Princeton junior outside hitter Kelli Grobe ('Iolani '05 of Kane'ohe) had three kills, two digs and an ace in the Tigers' four-game loss to Delaware.
Siena College (Loudonville, N.Y.) junior libero Kathi Kobayashi (Punahou '05 of 'Aiea) had six digs and sophomore defensive specialist Kau'i Robello (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) added two in the Saints' three-game loss to Penn State.
South Dakota State (Brookings, S.D.) freshman setter Melia Iwamoto (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) had 14 assists and five digs in the Jackrabbits' three-game loss to Nebraska.
Tennessee State (Nashville, Tenn.) freshman outside hitter Precious Salazar (Kamehameha-Hawai'i '07 of Pahoa) had one kill and one dig in the Tigers' three-game loss to Hawai'i. Freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Makena Naho'oikaika (Kamehameha-Hawai'i '07 of Hilo) added two digs.
FOOTBALL
Southern California junior linebacker Kaluka Maiava (Baldwin '04 of Wailuku) had four tackles, two for losses, including a sack in the Trojans' 24-7 win over rival UCLA Saturday. USC meets Illinois in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Los Angeles.
Bruins' sophomore reserve offensive tackle Micah Kia (Mililani '06 of Mililani) appeared in the game. UCLA plays Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 22.
New Mexico State junior linebacker La'Auli Fonoti (Kahuku '04 of Kahuku) had five tackles and senior defensive tackle Ray Manumaleuna (Kahuku '01 of La'ie) three in a 30-23 loss to Fresno State Friday. Junior linebacker Derek Hinkley (Punahou '04 of Kane'ohe) also made one tackle for NMSU. The Aggies finished 4-8 overall, 1-6 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Navy junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (Kapolei '04 of Kapolei) rushed for 27 yards on 14 carries and passed for 9 yards in a 38-3 win over Army Saturday. Senior center Reyn Kaupiko (Kamehameha '03 of Honolulu) appeared in the game. The Midshipmen accepted a bid to the San Diego-based Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 20.
Tennessee senior defensive tackle J.T. Mapu (Kahuku '02 of Kahuku) had two tackles in a 21-14 loss to LSU in the Southeastern Conference Championship game Saturday. The Volunteers play Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla.
Oregon State junior safety Al Afalava (Kahuku '05 of La'ie) had three tackles and senior defensive lineman Naymon Frank (Roosevelt '03 of Honolulu) had a tackle for loss in a 38-31 win over rival Oregon Saturday. The Beavers are headed to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 28, where they will meet Maryland.
Oregon, which started junior Max Unger (Hawai'i Prep '04 of Honaunau) at center, plays South Florida in the Sun Bowl Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas.
California sophomore defensive end Tyson Alualu (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) had eight tackles, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble in a 20-13 loss to rival Stanford Saturday. The Bears play Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Redlands (Calif.) center D.J. Tano ('Iolani '03 of Kailua) was named to the All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team. Tano has a bachelor's degree in liberal studies and is pursuing a master of arts in educational administration.
Western Oregon (Monmouth, Ore.) sophomore receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku (Saint Louis '05 of Honolulu) was named Most Valuable Player of the Dixie Rotary Bowl Saturday, a 26-12 win over the Colorado School of Mines. Kauleinamoku caught a touchdown pass and ran for another. He also returned four punts for 59 yards and one kickoff for 31 yards. Senior receiver Brad Ching (Kailua '03 of Kailua) caught three passes for 55 yards. Freshman linebacker Gerritt Vincent (Kamehameha '06 of Hau'ula) had two tackles for the Wolves.
San Jose City College sophomore offensive lineman Shaun DelaCalzada (Kaimuki '06 of Honolulu) was named to the Scout.com All-Coast Conference First Team for the second consecutive year.
MEN'S SOCCER
All seven teams with local players in the NCAA Division I Tournament have been eliminated, including a 2-1 upset by Massachusetts over top-seeded Boston College. Senior midfielder Satoshi Mitsuda (Punahou '03 of Honolulu) did not appear in the match for the Golden Eagles.
Washington freshman goalkeeper Daniel Fung ('Iolani 06 of Honolulu) made one save in the Huskies' 1-0 loss to defending national champion UC Santa Barbara in the second round.
Gauchos' sophomore midfielder C.J. Cintas (Hawai'i Prep '06 of Kailua, Kona) did not appear in the win over Washington, but did play 17 minutes in a 4-3, double-overtime loss to Ohio State in the second round.
SMU freshman Keoki Haole (Kapolei '07 of Kapolei) had one shot in 17 minutes in a 3-0 second-round loss to Creighton. Freshmen Kekoa Osorio (Kamehameha '07 of Honolulu) and Cameron Holm (Hawai'i Baptist '06 of Kailua) did not appear in the match.
Creighton went on to suffer a 1-0 loss to Illinois-Chicago in the third round. Bluejays' freshman midfielder Jeremy Wittig (Lutheran '06 of Kane'ohe) did not appear in either match.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Duke senior goalkeeper Allison Lipsher (Punahou '04 of Hawai'i Kai) made five saves but the Blue Devils lost a 3-2 decision to Notre Dame in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division I Tournament. Duke ends its season at 10-6-7.
Azusa Pacific (Calif.) junior forward Sarah Yoro (Mililani '05 of Mililani) and Westmont (Santa Barbara, Calif.) junior forward Amy Lawson ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) were named NAIA All-Region II (Southern California).
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Washington State senior guard Derrick Low ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) scored nine points, grabbed three rebounds and had two assists, two steals and a block in a 67-64 win over Baylor Friday.
Colorado School of Mines (Golden, Colo.) junior guard Kyle Pape ('Iolani '05 of Honolulu) had 24 points, three rebounds and a steal in a 114-70 rout of Montana State-Billings Friday. He added 21 points, two rebounds and an assist in Saturday's 77-71 loss to Northwest Nazarene (Nampa, Idaho).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Cal State East Bay (Hayward, Calif.) senior guard Bre Carson (McKinley '04 of Kailua) scored 10 points with four rebounds and a steal in a 62-47 win over UC Santa Cruz Saturday.
Menlo (Atherton, Calif.) senior guard/forward Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04 of Honolulu) had a team-high 15 points in a 65-44 loss to Concordia (Irvine) Friday. Freshman guard Nicole Fu (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) had six points and three assists for Concordia. Senior forward Ginger Gravelle ('Iolani '04 of Honolulu) had three points for Concordia.
Lee scored 25 points against Occidental (Los Angeles) Saturday and junior guard Kelci Fushikoshi (Lahainaluna '05 of Lahaina) added 10. Against Whittier (Calif.) Sunday, Lee led all scorers with 27 points and 10 rebounds and Fushikoshi added 22 points. The Oaks won, 68-56.
Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.
