Tanaka will not defend
Pearl Open title Friday

The 24th annual Hawaii Pearl Open is set to begin Friday at the Pearl Country Club.

An international field of 192 golfers will play 54 holes in an attempt to grab their share of the $80,000 purse for professionals and $77,500 in merchandise certificates for the 21 amateurs. The tournament claims that it is the richest prize of any locally run tournament.

Hidemichi Tanaka -- last year's champion -- will not defend his title because he is playing on the PGA Tour. Although Tanaka will not be there, Namio Takasu, who won the first Pearl Open in 1979, will be.

Local pro golfers expected to play are Dean Wilson, Greg Meyer and David Ishii.

Twelve-year-old phenom Michelle Wie is expected to play against the men in the amateur tournament, and she'll be joined by Jonathan Ota, Jarrett Hamamoto, Kellen Floyd Asao, Del Marc Fujita, Brandan Kop and others.

William Coelho and 23 others earned spots in the tournament in qualifying yesterday.

Sorenstam on Big Island: Annika Sorenstam, the LPGA's leading money winner last year, expects to open her season at the Takefuji Classic at the Waikoloa Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona on Feb. 28.

Warriors move up a spot in volleyball poll

The Hawaii volleyball team climbed one spot in the USA Today/AVCA coaches poll.

The Warriors moved to No. 3 from No. 4 after defeating Stanford and Pacific twice on the road. UCLA and Pepperdine top the chart, while Brigham Young and Penn State round out the top five.

Outside hitter Tony Ching practiced with the team yesterday for the first time in three weeks.

Wahine done in late by Long Beach's speed

The Hawaii softball team dropped its opening game of the season, 1-0, in the bottom of the ninth to Long Beach State yesterday at Lakewood, Calif.

The Wahine also lost the second game, 5-4.

Hawaii pitcher Sheri Oronoz took the loss in the first game, while Shannon Tabion lost the second in relief. Melissa Coogan started the second game but was chased after getting only five outs.

Stacey Porter hit a home run in the second game but left four runners on base in the first game.

Seasiders start season by getting swept

The Brigham Young-Hawaii softball team was swept by Augustana, 10-0 and 3-2, yesterday in season-opening games in Laie.

In the second game, the Seasiders kept it close but lost when Augustana's Bethany Almquist dumped a shallow fly past a diving Juanita Vega in the top of the seventh inning.

Sea Warriors sweep Silverswords in tennis

The Hawaii Pacific men's and women's tennis teams went undefeated in matches against Chaminade at the Oahu Club yesterday.

HPU's men won, 8-0, while the women prevailed, 6-0.

Karl Sloss had the most impressive performance for HPU's men, sweeping Lance Tanouye, 6-0, 6-0. Dora Holdarova did the same to Jeanne Parkinson on the women's side. Parkinson did not win a game in doubles either, teaming up with Kim Yamasaki in an 8-0 loss to Stephanie Kovacic and Summer Terry.