Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

SMALL COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

HPU women’s volleyball
team isn’t looking
too far ahead

The Hawaii Pacific University women's volleyball team is No. 1 in Division II and the favorite to win the national championship, but after their disappointing finish last year under similar circumstances, the Sea Warriors are determined to take this season one game at a time.

The Sea Warriors were the No. 1 team and the favorite to win the title last year when they suffered a first round upset in the Pacific Regional to Cal State-Bakersfield.

Next Tuesday, HPU (14-0, 7-0) will play one of the biggest games in Division II this year when they face defending national champion and current No. 7 Brigham Young University-Hawaii (10-4, 6-1) at home.

Though this Pacific West Conference showcase matchup between the state and Pacific Division's two premier teams is just around the corner, the Sea Warriors are not looking past the two opponents they must play first -- Chaminade (4-13, 3-6) tomorrow, then Hawaii-Hilo (6-11, 2-7) on Saturday.

"We're not overlooking anybody this year," Sea Warriors coach Tita Ahuna said. "All of our games are important and we are more focused. Coming up short last year actually has helped us not to look ahead and only look at our next opponent."

However, with Chaminade near the bottom and Hawaii-Hilo in last-place of the Pacific Division standings, Ahuna concedes that the atmosphere will be intensely heated when her Sea Warriors play BYUH. The Seasiders only losses so far this year came at the hands of No. 6 Northwood (Mich.), twice, and the Sea Warriors, also twice. But in their most recent loss to HPU, the younger and less-experienced Seasiders forced the match to five games.

"It's gonna be a battle," said Ahuna of the upcoming BYUH game.

"They have always been a formidable opponent and they're not going to sit down and roll over for us."

BYUH faces Hawaii-Hilo tomorrow and Chaminade on Saturday, both at home.

Coach Wilfred Navalta is also quick to point out that his Seasiders are not overlooking either team, despite winning four consecutive matches since their last loss to HPU a month ago.

"We've been winning, but we haven't been consistent," Navalta said. "Our level (of play) goes up and down within matches, even within games, and we still have some positions that need to be resolved. We must focus on UH-Hilo and Chaminade first, then refocus for HPU."

Garbelotti Player of Week

HPU middle blocker Susy Garbelotti was named PacWest women's volleyball Player of the Week. The 6-1 sophomore from Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil had 26 kills, five blocks, 13 digs, five service aces, and she posted a .575 attack percentage in leading the Sea Warriors to sweeps over Saint Martin's and Central Washington last week.

HPU men in playoff hunt

With just one conference loss on the season against two wins, the HPU men's soccer team is still in the PacWest playoff mix. Seattle Pacific, Seattle, Humboldt State and Western Washington also have only one conference loss on the year, though the first three have more victories than the Sea Warriors.

That makes Saturday's PacWest home game against rival BYUH a must-win for the Sea Warriors, with only two other conference games remaining on their schedule.

Gaspar going for three

BYUH's Petra Gaspar is attempting to become the first player ever to win three straight singles titles at this week's 2000 Rolex National Small College Tennis Championships in Memphis, Tenn.

Gaspar is also attempting to make history by three-peating in the doubles competition, pairing with her Seasiders championship partner from last year, Tagifano So'onalole.

HPU's Matey Pampalov is competing on the men's side in singles, with Sea Warriors teammates Jan Tribler and Wojtek Bratek going for the doubles title.

The tournament began today and runs through Sunday. Winners in both singles and doubles earn berths to the 2001 Rolex National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, with the rest of the draw to be comprised of Division I competition.

Honors for Hernandez, Blomme

Hawaii athletes ran away with both the men's and women's PacWest Runner of the Week awards on Monday. Hawaii-Hilo's Eleazar Hernandez received the men's award after winning the Hawaii PacWest Cross Country Championships at Kaneohe last weekend with a time of 27 minutes, 50 seconds.

HPU's Lisa Blomme received her award for winning the women's division in the same race in 18:47.

---

Brandon Lee, Special to the Star-Bulletin