Hawaii Grown Report: College Athletics
Billy Hull
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Baldwin’s Maiava leaving Colorado
Scout.com freshman All-American
Kai Maiava (Baldwin '07) is transferring from Colorado after one season. The 6-foot, 290-pound Maiava tied a Buffaloes record with nine starts by a true freshman on the offensive line. He was also named to the Sporting News freshman All-American team.
He cited family problems as the primary reason for his departure. He will finish the spring semester in Boulder before leaving.
"Me and my family have been going through a lot of problems as of late," Maiava said over the phone yesterday. "I'm just trying to get closer to home."
Despite his freshman success, Maiava was asked to drop 40 pounds and move to fullback in the spring, which he didn't like. He said "it played a small part" in his decision to transfer.
"They said I was too small to play guard for them," Maiava said. "I just kind of felt like that wasn't going to work out."
Maiava wants to transfer some place closer to home. He specifically mentioned California, but also said he's "maybe even thinking of UH." His main concern is playing at a division I school, but will go the junior college route if needed.
"I don't mind sitting out a year," Maiava said. "My plan is to try to get into another D-1, and if that doesn't work out, probably a J.C."
» New Mexico State's Oren Long (Saint Louis '04) has been given a full scholarship for his upcoming senior season. Long played his first two seasons out of high school at Alcorn State before transferring to NMSU and sitting out in 2006. His limited playing time as a junior came mostly on special teams.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
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Corey Spence (Seabury Hall '04) just missed out on going 4-for-4 in national titles Saturday. The senior libero had six digs for Cal Baptist as the Lancers fell to host Park in the NAIA men's volleyball championship match at Parkville, Mo. The Pirates won 31-29, 30-10, 30-17 to end Cal Baptist's string of national titles at four. Sophomore defensive specialist
Micah Tokuda (Hawaii Baptist '05) didn't play in the title match but did get in briefly in Friday's semifinal win against Cardinal Stritch. Spence had nine of the Lancers' 28 digs in the 30-21, 30-25, 30-19 win.
WOMEN'S GOLF
» Stanford junior
Mari Chun (Kamehameha '05) finished 16 over par to finish in a tie for 22nd place at the Pac-10 Championships in Palos Verdes, Calif. Chun shot back-to-back rounds of 75 before closing with a 79. Arizona junior
Amanda Wilson (Waiakea '05) finished four shots back of Chun in a tie for 32nd. Wilson shot rounds of 79, 76 and 78.
» Idaho senior Kelly Nakashima (Baldwin '04) finished in a tie for fouth place after shooting a 1-over 73 in the final round of the WAC Championships in Fresno, Calif. Boise State sophomore Iris Ocariza (Moanalua '06) finished tied for 18th and Nevada senior Jennie Pleas (Kauai '04) finished in 32nd place.
» Portland State junior Kayla Morinaga (Sacred Hearts '05) shot 75 in the final two rounds of the Big Sky championships to finish in a tie for 10th place in Phoenix. The Vikings won the team title for the first time since 2005, when they won the last of three consecutive championships.
BASEBALL
» Pacific sophomore
Brandon Kon (Castle '06) went 3-for-5 with two doubles and six RBIs and
Kaeo Lau Hee (Kamehameha-Maui '06) went 4-for-5 with a triple and four runs scored in an 11-4 victory over Lewis & Clark. Kon had four hits in the second game of the doubleheader won 4-3 by the Pioneers. Lewis & Clark shortstop
Jordan Shibata (Aiea '04) had a hit in each game.
» Sacramento State senior Taylor Watanabe (Aiea '03) went 4-for-8 with a double, two runs and two RBIs in the final two games of the Hornets series sweep over Hawaii-Hilo. Watanabe upped his average to .318 for the season with 15 runs scored.
GYMNASTICS
» Seattle Pacific senior
Christie Chinaka (Home school) placed 19th on the balance beam with a 9.250 score and tied for 15th place on vault with a score of 9.525 at the USAG Championships last weekend in Shreveport, La.
Billy Hull, Star-Bulletin