Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Kai scores for U.S. in China
U.S. women's soccer team coach Greg Ryan came to southern China searching for a third striker. He found it yesterday in a 2-0 victory over China as striker Natasha Kai scored to give the Americans a record fifth Four Nations tournament title.
Kai is one of about five forwards Ryan tried in China. All are vying for a starting spot alongside top scorers Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly. Kai scored in the 56th minute, chipping in a shot off a corner kick.
Tausaga named preseason WAC player of year
Hawaii senior first baseman Tyleen Tausaga yesterday was selected as the preseason Western Athletic Conference softball player of the year in a vote by the conference coaches.
The Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish second behind perennial power Fresno State. Defending WAC tournament champion Nevada was third.
Joining Tausaga on the preseason All-WAC team were junior outfielder Kaulana Gould, junior Kate Robinson as a utility player and sophomore pitcher Justine Smethurst as an at-large selection.
Hawaii opens the season with the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic Feb. 8-11 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. In the field are No. 15 Nebraska and No. 24 Auburn, as well as Portland State and DePaul.
Wichmann earns WAC track weekly honors
Hawaii junior Annett Wichmann yesterday was named the Western Athletic Conference athlete of the week in women's indoor track and field.
Wichmann, from Jena, Germany, won the pentathlon and the shot put at last Friday's University of Washington Invitational. She is the WAC's defending champion in the heptathlon.
Warriors slip in Volleyball magazine poll
Hawaii dropped five places into a tie for 10th in yesterday's Volleyball magazine Top 10 media poll.
The Warriors were ranked No. 5 last week. They share 10th with Long Beach State (4-4).
Hawaii (2-4, 2-2) is at UCLA (3-6, 1-5) today and Friday for Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches (5 p.m. Hawaii time).
Conference honors again for Menlo's Lee
Menlo junior forward Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04) was named the Cal-Pac Conference women's basketball player of the week for the fourth time this season.
Lee recorded her seventh double-double last Thursday with 25 points and 11 rebounds in the Lady Oaks' win over Dominican. She also scored 26 points in Menlo's victory over Simpson on Saturday.
The Lady Oaks (9-0) are ranked No. 5 in the NAIA. Also on the Menlo roster from Hawaii are sophomore guard Kelci Fushikoshi (Lahainaluna '05) and freshman guard Kristina Lin (Mid-Pacific '06).