Hawaii outside hitter Tony Ching was named the AVCA National Player of the Week for his outstanding efforts in two victories over No. 8 UCLA last week. Hawaii’s Ching nets
national volleyball honorChing hit over .600 and averaged 4.50 kills per game as the Warriors picked up their first ever road sweep of the Bruins. The senior from Honolulu totaled six aces, 10 digs and five blocks in the matches.
"He just competed real hard. He hit smart, served well, did a lot of things well," Warriors coach Mike Wilton said. "They're all things he's entirely capable of doing. ...That was a big important match and he shined both nights."
Wilton gave his starters, with the exception of setter Kimo Tuyay, the day off from practice yesterday.
Hawaii faces No. 6 Pacific on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Viloria could sign to fight Leon next
Waipahu flyweight Brian Viloria is close to signing Mexican fighter Valentin "Picocco" Leon for his next fight, team Viloria manager Gary Gittelsohn said.The fight will be the main event of a card scheduled for April 15 at the Sheraton Ballroom and is expected to include mostly local talent.
Leon (14-5, 6 KOs) started his career 12-0 before runing into Isaac Bustos, who knocked him out twice. Leon's last fight was a loss to unbeaten Olympian Ivan Calderon in December in Puerto Rico, the first time Leon had fought outside his native Mexico.
Leon has held the North American Boxing Federation's minimumweight title, but may not get a chance at any of Viloria's two gold belts. Gittelsohn says that he has not decided whether to put the titles up, and that if it were a title fight the bout would be 12 rounds.
Viloria (11-0, 6 KOs) hopes to snap out of his recent funk; he hasn't scored a knockout in his last 39 rounds.
"He is a very explosive fighter," Gittelsohn said. "He matches up well with Brian. Obviously we all want Brian to keep winning, but you also have to be able to entertain the fans. Leon should help Brian get back to doing that."
Japanese team out of UH tourney
Nittaidai has pulled out of this week's Hawaii Invitational, citing concerns about traveling from Japan during a possible war.A team from Tokyo will still make the trip to play in the tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Remaining teams include No. 18 Ohio State, Wisconsin, Pacific, Tokyo and host Hawaii, which is 15-10.
Sea Warriors lose two: Western New Mexico swept Hawaii Pacific again yesterday in Kaneohe. The Lady Stangs (24-1, 4-0) beat the Sea Warriors (16-8, 5-5) 5-4 and 1-0 in nine innings to take all four games of the Pacific West Conference series.
Malia Sullivan (7-3) pitched well in the second game, allowing just five hits and one run.
Islanders reassign 5 players
The Hawaiian Islanders have reassigned five players to the league --wide receivers John Dollar and Stevie Laulu, linemen Manu Kanoa and Evile Puna and linebacker Sasae Paogofie.Players reassigned to the league can be picked up by other arenafootball2 teams.
The Islanders open the season March 31 against Green Bay at Blaisdell Arena.
Seasiders win in tennis rout
Second-ranked Brigham Young-Hawaii beat Bowdoin 9-0 in men's tennis yesterday. Jan Krejci won in singles and teamed with Leon Soonalole to win in doubles for the Seasiders (11-0).