'Iolani's Epenesa chooses UCLA

When it came down to it, Seali'i Epenesa went where he felt most at home.

That turned out to be UCLA. Yesterday, the 6-foot-2, 315-pound 'Iolani senior gave the Bruins his verbal commitment to play football.

Epenesa, a Star-Bulletin all-state first-team defensive tackle, picked UCLA over Oregon State. Baylor and Hawaii were among the offers he received, which were seven or eight in all, he said.

“;It wasn't an easy decision,”; he said. “;They're very good schools academically and athletically. I felt more comfortable at UCLA. I met a lot of guys who are in the same grade as me, committed already and we just got along and clicked. That was a big thing for me.”;

Epenesa said Hawaii offered only recently.

“;It's always nice to stay home. I would've taken UH into consideration, but they came in too late. They offered me two weeks ago,”; he said.

No. 2 seed falls in Challenger semis

Kevin Anderson upset second-seeded Kevin Kim, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a quarterfinals matchup in the Honolulu Challenger at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. Top-seeded Michael Russell also advanced from his quarterfinal match, defeating eighth-seeded Ryan Sweeting 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. The event continues today with the first match starting at 10 a.m.

Hawaii 1-2-3 in high jump

Amber Kaufman claimed first place at the Lobo Challenge at the Albuquerque Convention Center with a 6-3 1/4 jump, equaling the best in the nation this year.

Fellow Rainbow Wahine track and field members Samantha Balentine and Sarah Saddleton finished second and third in the event. Sophomore Emma MacCorquodale also took the top position in the weight-throw event for the Rainbow Wahine.

UH water polo wins 2 matches

The Hawaii women's water polo team won its first two matches of the season, defeating 15th ranked UC Santa Barbara 7-5 and Pacific 11-5 at the Northern California Invitational yesterday. Monika Eggens led UH with seven goals while Carmen Eggens had five.