[ UH WARRIOR FOOTBALL ]
A shuffled secondary could be in place for Hawaii (5-2, 4-2 Western Athletic Conference) when it plays San Jose State (2-5, 2-2) tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium. UH’s secondary
Lelie a great catch
up in air for San Jose
By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comCornerback Abraham Elimimian's right ankle remains tender after he sprained it in last Friday's 38-34 victory over Fresno State. The freshman has practiced this week, but coach June Jones said yesterday Elimimian might not be ready to play tomorrow.
"We'll have to wait until Saturday to see how he is," Jones said.
If he can't play, one option is to move safety Nate Jackson to cornerback and start Robert Grant at safety. Jackson said he is OK after playing last week with deep stitches in his left leg as a result of a motorcycle accident Oct. 22.
Other possibilities at cornerback are Hyrum Peters, Gary Wright, Josiah Cravalho and Keith Bhonapha.
Defensive tackle Mike Iosua is set to play despite recurring shoulder problems, but backup wide receiver Tafiti Uso is out with a separated right shoulder. Backup quarterback Timmy Chang (right wrist), defensive linemen Lui Fuga (right shoulder) and Lance Samuseva (right ankle and shoulder) are all listed as probable.
Fuga, who started 11 games last year, has yet to play this season.
"He's looked better this week than last," Jones said.
Special teams player/reserve safety Matt Manuma (left knee) remains out.
San Jose State lists star tailback Deonce Whitaker (right knee strain) as probable, wide receiver Casey Le Blanc (hamstring) as probable, and linebacker Brian Foreman (hamstring) as possible.
Discovering Japan: Jones expressed interest again this week in the possibility of playing games in Japan in coming years. He even mentioned recruiting players from there.
"I'd like to go over and see if there are a couple kids with 4.5 speed," Jones said.
With the loss this year of the Aloha and Oahu bowls, even if the Warriors are bowl-eligible with at least seven victories they could find themselves with no postseason game. Jones said if that situation presents itself in future years, a game in Japan could help make up for it.
Bowl-o?: WAC commissioner Karl Benson said WAC teams could get more than the two bowl bids the league is guaranteed (in the Silicon Valley Bowl and the Humanitarian Bowl) this year.
"It's way too early to talk about specifics, but on the national scene there could be some opportunities in other bowls for WAC teams this year," Benson said.
A key is if conferences that are tied to bowl games don't have enough teams with the prerequisite number of victories (six for teams with 11-game schedules, seven for those that play 12).
But a source told the Star-Bulletin that at this point officials of several bowls that could find themselves in that situation are more interested in teams from the Mountain West and Big Ten conferences than any from the WAC.
A problem specific for Hawaii is that Warrior fans are less likely to travel to a game than are those of mainland teams because of geographical considerations.
No word on Air Force game: UH, WAC and ESPN officials were still working late yesterday on whether the network will televise the Air Force at Hawaii game in three weeks.
The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 24, would have to be moved to Friday, Nov. 23 if ESPN decides to televise it.
UH Athletics
Less than four weeks ago, Hawaii Pacific was a volleyball team that had not lost since last century. Since then, the Sea Warriors have not only suffered through their first defeat since 1999, but also a losing record. HPU gasping
at the finish lineBy Brandon Lee and Jerry Campany
blee@starbulletin.com jcampany@starbulletin.comBeginning on Oct. 6, when Hawaii-Hilo undid the defending national champion's 42-match winning streak, HPU has dropped four of its last six matches, including a rude straight-game sweep by the Division I Hawaii Wahine on Tuesday.
The Sea Warriors (16-4, 10-3 Pacific West Conference) have fallen from the top to No. 13 in the national rankings and from first to a tie for eighth in the Pacific Region. The downward spiral has left coach Tita Ahuna bewildered, and her players -- the majority of whom had never tasted defeat at HPU before this season -- likely a little dazed.
"Something has been missing," Ahuna said. "As far as skill, we know how to execute that; it just seems we're a couple steps behind every time.
"I'm very curious to see how (the players are) doing in their minds. I told them to each search in their hearts to see where they want to go this season and how we can improve."
Even with three losses in their last five conference matches, the Sea Warriors have the opportunity to clinch the PacWest title and the automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Pacific Regional that goes with it by winning just one of their final two contests.
Their first chance comes tomorrow night when they host Montana State-Billings, while their last is two days later when Western New Mexico visits. HPU is 4-0 against the two schools this year.
Regardless of HPU sitting in the driver's seat, Ahuna feels that tomorrow's match is nearly a must-win.
"I think it's critical," said Ahuna, of wrapping up the PacWest title against MSU-Billings. "I know the ladies will be up for the challenge. Knowing that it's coming to the end and it's getting down to the nitty gritty, we need to take care of business."
Brigham Young-Hawaii
The cross country team earned a rare sweep when the PacWest Academic All-Conference teams were announced yesterday, putting all six of its eligible athletes -- Namea Curtis, Annie Kahle-Clark, Kristi Woolley, Alyson Zollinger, Amanda Mauldin and Kristin Cox -- on the team.Joshua Hoeh made it for the men's team, while senior Nichole Olmstead was the lone representative for the volleyball team.
Minimum requirements include a 3.3 GPA, being in the second year of competition at school, and participation in at least 50 percent of contests except in cases of injury.
Hawaii Pacific
Andrea Wean was HPU's lone volleyball honoree on the PacWest Academic All-Conference team, but six cross country runners were also honored: Stephanie Young, Lisa Blomme, Christine Patrick and Cindy Wendt for the women and Abdeslam Naji and Kimokeo Bode for the men.Runners from all four local schools will be participating in the NCAA-II West Regional tomorrow in Bellingham, Wash.
Chaminade
The Silverswords had three PacWest Academic All-Stars in volleyball: Julianne Hastert, Audrey Brady and Jessica Robins. Five women -- Maromi Abe, Kauanoe Kaneshiro, Karen Kubasak, Monique Mata and Elizabeth Texeira -- were honored in cross country.Bonyen Thomas made the team in men's cross country.
Hawaii-Hilo
The volleyball team has been as hot in the classroom as it has been on the court lately, placing five starters -- Emily Hutchinson, Tiffanie Ollison, Sara Pilgreen, Heidi Fabritz and Ann Haggerty -- on the academic all-conference squad.The Vulcans also placed men's cross country runners Alistair In and Julian Stevens on the team, along with Molly Kimes as the only representative for the women's squad.
Top performer
Kimberly Tano, Western New Mexico volleyball: The freshman outside hitter from Kaneohe helped the Mustangs to six wins in the past week, leading the team in kills in each of them. Tano recorded four double-doubles while beating Chaminade twice and taking tournament MVP honors in the Mississippi University for Women Tournament.
