Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Stanley named Olympian in volleyball
Former Hawaii volleyball player Clay Stanley is headed to his second Olympic Games.
The Kaiser High graduate yesterday was nominated to represent the U.S. next month in Beijing, pending approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
This will be the second Olympics for Stanley. He feels it will be even better than the 2004 Games in Athens, where the U.S. team finished fourth.
"I feel our team is stronger this time," Stanley said when reached at his California home. "I'm pretty excited about competing in a new country. I've never been to China."
When Stanley made the Olympic team in 2004, it was the first time for USA Volleyball that a father and son played in the Olympics. Jon Stanley was a member of the U.S. team in 1968.
Earlier this year, Clay was named the top server at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifier as the U.S. Men qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games. He finished the qualifier as the top U.S. scorer with 49 points on 33 kills, 10 aces and six blocks.
At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Clay led the team and finished fifth overall in scoring with 110 points on 83 kills, 17 aces and 10 blocks.
Two other Hawaii players had been in consideration for the Olympic team: middle Delano Thomas and libero Alfred Reft.
Local golfer advances at Publinx
Former Kaimuki High golfer Chan Kim advanced to the match-play portion of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Aurora, Colo., with a two-round total of 2-over-par 144.
Kim shot even-par 71 yesterday to finish the stroke-play qualifying round tied for 34th place. The Chandler, Ariz., resident was to face Andrew Paulson of Minnesota in today's first round of match play.
Hawaii players who didn't make the 64-player field were Sean Maekawa of Paauilo (150, tied for 94th), Jared Sawada of Mililani (151, tied for 104th), Taeksoo Kim of Wailuku (157, tied for 143rd) and Kellen Watabu of Kapaa (160, tied for 151st).