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Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Seasiders win sixth national championship
Brigham Young-Hawaii knocked off top-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) 5-3 yesterday to win its sixth NCAA Division II national tennis championship in the last eight years.
The national title is also the eighth overall for the Seasiders (27-0), who also won back-to-back NAIA crowns in 1997 and '98.
The victory also avenged last year's loss to the Pirates in the title match.
Trailing 3-2, BYUH won the next three matches to wrap it up. Petra Teller tied it 3-all with a win at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 6-2 over Manuela Emrrich.
Tetyana Bula made it 4-3 by beating Johanna Dahlback at No. 4 singles, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
Ramona Husaru clinched the title by battling back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set for a 6-1, 7-5 win over Dziyana Nazaruk at No. 3 singles.
The Seasiders are expected to return home today.
Top-ranked Trojans edge Rainbow Wahine
Moriah Van Norman scored three goals to lead No. 1 USC to a 9-7 victory over Hawaii in the semifinals of the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship yesterday at Davis, Calif.
Trailing by four, the Rainbow Wahine scored two late goals to get the deficit to two, but their comeback fell short.
Anna Sieprath, Kelly Mason and Kristy Bagnall all scored twice for Hawaii.
"Of course it's disappointing," UH coach Michael Roy said. "Of course it would have been nice to (defeat USC) a second time in a season, but USC ... is deep, they are talented, they are strong, they are fast and full of experienced world-class athletes. We gave it a good go."
Patacchia loses to Martinez in Tahiti final
Hawaii surfer Fred Patacchia Jr. lost to Bobby Martinez in the Billabong Pro Tahiti final yesterday in 3-5-foot waves at Teahupoo.
Earlier in the day, Patacchia won a quarterfinal heat and then beat seven-time world champ Kelly Slater in a semifinal heat.
Hawaii's Bruce Irons was eliminated by Slater in the quarterfinals of the World Championship Tour event.
Slater leads the rankings and Martinez is second. Hawaii's Andy Irons, a three-time world champ, is fourth, brother Bruce is seventh and Patacchia is ninth.
Le'i is Mountain West player of year
Ianeta Le'i was named the Mountain West Conference women's softball player of the year last week.
Le'i, an Iolani graduate, led the league with a .540 batting average to help her team to its second straight 40-win season. She tallied a league-leading 11 home runs and 38 RBIs.
The first baseman leads the nation in RBIs, ranks 18th in batting average and 12th in home runs.
It's Herman Frazier Day at Honolulu QB Club
The Honolulu Quarterback Club is holding "Herman Frazier Day" at its weekly luncheon tomorrow.
Frazier, the University of Hawaii athletic director, was recently named by ESPN Classic as one of the top 100 most influential student-athletes. He was an eight-time track and field All-American at Arizona State and captained the 1977 national champions.
Frazier graduated from Arizona State in 1977 with a degree in political science. He competed on the ASU track and field team and was an eight-time All-American and team captain of the 1977 national championship team.
Testimonials will be given by mayor Mufi Hannemann, UH associate AD John McNamara, UH chancellor Denise Konan and Don Murphy of Koa Anuenue.
The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Pagoda Hotel and public is invited.
