Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Rainbow Wahine's Houston returns today
Sophomore hitter Jamie Houston, and her team-leading 5.15 kills per game, are scheduled to be back on the volleyball court today when 15th-ranked Hawaii returns to practice.
Houston was suspended for Saturday's match against Fresno State for violating unspecified team rules. Rainbow Wahine coach Dave Shoji reinstated Houston yesterday, but did not elaborate on the circumstances surrounding her return.
Houston was the only Wahine to start all 10 matches and play in all 39 games prior to her suspension.
The Rainbow Wahine will be packing their 108-match Western Athletic Conference winning streak as well as a No. 15 ranking when making their first road trip of the season this week.
Hawaii (7-4, 1-0) remained at 15 for a second straight week in the CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll released yesterday, its lowest ranking since the 1997 season.
New Mexico State (16-0, 2-0) gave the WAC another ranked team for the second week in a row, moving up two spots to No. 22.
The top four remained unchanged, led by Nebraska (12-0), which received 43 of the 60 first-place votes. The Huskers are followed by Penn State (13-0, 13 first-place votes), UCLA (15-0) and defending NCAA champion Washington (12-1, one first-place vote).
The biggest movement was Texas (8-3) dropping from fifth to eighth after falling to then-No. 22 Missouri. The Tigers (9-4) jumped to 19th yesterday.
Three other Hawaii opponents remained ranked: No. 10 Florida (10-2), No. 20 Cal Poly (9-4) and No. 23 Pepperdine (4-6).
The Wahine are at Fresno State this Friday and San Jose State Saturday.
» Brigham Young-Hawaii held on to its No. 9 ranking in the AVCA/CSTV Division II poll.
The Seasiders (9-0, 5-0 Pacific West) are one of four undefeated NCAA II teams. They defeated Grand Canyon and Notre Dame de Namur last week.
Chaminade received 13 votes in the poll, but didn't crack the top 10.
Spencer earns conference and region honors
Bethel College (Mishawaka, Ind.) freshman Amber Spencer is the Mid-Central College Conference and NAIA Region VIII player of the week.
Spencer, a forward from Hilo, scored two goals as the Pilots upset defending National Christian College Athletic Association champion Trinity Christian College.
Spencer has four goals and two assists so far.
Vulcans in seventh after 2 rounds
Hawaii-Hilo is in seventh place after the first two rounds of the Viking Invitational in Bellingham, Wash.
Logan Goulding leads the Vulcans at 1-over 143 and is in a tie for 11th place.
Host Western Washington leads the tournament at 567, and Hilo is 24 strokes back at 591 going into today's final round.
» Kaanapali Golf Courses has promoted Kendric Kimizuka from assistant golf pro to head golf pro.
Kimizuka will continue to give daily golf lessons and provide group tournament coordination and has taken on new duties of day-to-day operations of the Tournament North and Resort South courses, including staffing, scheduling and training.