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Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, February 3, 2000

Wahine sign three
volleyball stars

Three standout volleyball players made good on their verbal commitments yesterday to the University of Hawaii women's volleyball program.

Signing with the Wahine were middle blockers Melody Eckmier and Lauren Duggins from California and two-time Louisiana Player of the Year Kim Willoughby, an outside hitter.

The 6-foot-3 Eckmier, who missed her senior year with a knee injury, was a member of the USA Youth National Team last summer along with the 6-foot Willoughby. Duggins, another 6-footer, played for Asics Nova, which won the 1999 Junior National club-17 division.

Hawaii opens its season Sept. 1 against Texas A&M, the team that ended the Wahine's season in the NCAA regional semifinal. Joining Hawaii and Texas A&M in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic field are UCLA and Iowa.

Taekwondo at Blaisdell

The Blaisdell Center will house an international Taekwondo tune-up for this year's Olympics, beginning tomorrow.

The U.S. Open Championships, which run through Feb. 6, will feature more than 1,000 competitors from 39 countries as national teams prepare for taekwondo's debut as an Olympic medal sport.

The U.S. team is coached by Dae Sung Lee, who teaches at the U.S. Taekwondo Center in Aina Haina.

Men and women will compete in junior (ages 14-17) and senior (18 and older) weight divisions.

All participants must hold black belts.

UH water polo opener

The Hawaii women's water polo team, coming off consecutive national top-10 finishes, opens its season hosting the third annual Rainbow Challenge tournament today and tomorrow at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

The Wahine play UC Santa Barbara at 6:30 p.m. today after a 5:15 match between UC San Diego and UCLA.

Saturday, UH plays UC San Diego at 10:15 a.m. and UCLA in the 6:30 p.m. tournament finale.