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Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, November 15, 2000

Seasiders favored to
repeat as division champs

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Star-Bulletin staff

Brigham Young-Hawaii, which dethroned Hawaii Pacific as the PacWest Conference Pacific Division men's basketball champion last season, is the favorite to make it two titles in a row.

The Seasiders received six of eight votes from the division coaches to earn 68 points in the preseason poll.

Alaska-Anchorage, which received one first-place vote, finished second with 53 points.

Alaska-Fairbanks, which had the remaining vote, and HPU tied for third with 38 points. Chaminade was sixth with 26 points and Hawaii-Hilo seventh with 24 points.

The Seasiders were picked to finish second overall in the conference behind defending PacWest champion Seattle Pacific of the Mountain Division.

BYUH coach Ken Wagner needs two victories to reach the 200-win career mark.

Sea Warriors still No. 1

The undefeated Hawaii Pacific women's volleyball team left today for the NCAA II Pacific Regional, packing along the top-ranking from the coaches' poll.

The Sea Warriors (23-0) received 23 of 25 first-place votes for 623 points to remain No. 1 for the 12th consecutive week.

Cal State Los Angeles (30-0) received the other two votes for 601 points. The Golden Eagles are seeded first in the regional, which they will host beginning tomorrow.

Defending champion Brigham Young-Hawaii (17-6) is ranked 10th.

The Seasiders were not selected for a regional berth. It is the first time in Division II history that the national champion will not get a chance to defend its title in postseason play.

BYUH was the highest-ranked team not to be invited to the postseason tournament.

Murakami 'improving'

University of Hawaii baseball coach Les Murakami remains in critical condition but continues to improve, according to a spokes-man for The Queen's Medical Center.

The 64-year-old Murakami has been hospitalized since suffering a stroke on Nov. 2. He had two precautionary procedures done yesterday to help his recovery pro-cess. Murakami remains in the intensive care unit.

UH swimming/diving meet

The University of Hawaii swimming and diving team hosts Cal State Northridge Friday at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Center.

There is no admission charge.

Divers Michael Gowdy and Sarah Farr already have qualified for the 2001 NCAA meet.

Georgi Kinsela, in the backstroke, and Morgan Hoesterey, in the breaststroke, also have posted NCAA qualifying times.

Stefanov soccer all-star

Ivo Stefanov, a senior defender from Hawaii Pacific University, has been named to the Pacific West Conference men's soccer all-star first team.

Merrill Johnson, a senior defender from Brigham Young-Hawaii University is a member of the second team.

Receiving honorable mention were HPU striker Elia Sauma; BYUH midfielder Beau Keenan, Sea Warriors midfielders Toni Stephanov and Walea Kalama; defenders Kevin Petrie of BYUH and Kurt VerEeche of HPU, and Seasiders goalkeeper Mike Akinaka.

UH-Hilo AD interviews

Two more interviews have been scheduled for candidates interested in the University of Hawaii at Hilo athletic director's job.

Kathleen McNally, former director of athletics and recreation at Gannon University in Erie, Pa., will interview Nov. 27-28.

Ronald Case, director of athletics and department of health and physical education chairman at Gloucester Country College in Sewell, N.J., arrives Nov. 30.