---

Gonzaga joins field for '05 Maui Invitational

Gonzaga has been added to the 2005 EA Sports Maui Invitational, joining a field that includes six former national champions.

Along with the Bulldogs of the West Coast Conference, the 2005 tournament features Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan State and host Chaminade.

Gonzaga replaced DePaul, which requested to move out of next year's field since it will play Connecticut in the Big East starting with the 2005-06 season.

This year's tournament is set for Nov. 22-24 at the Lahaina Civic Center. Brigham Young, Iowa, Louisville, North Carolina, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas and Chaminade are slated to play in the event.

Hawaii Pacific ranked in volleyball

The Hawaii Pacific volleyball team will start the season ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Division II coaches poll released yesterday.

The Sea Warriors were 17-9 last year and finished the season ranked No. 15 after reaching the regional final but losing to Cal State San Bernardino, which received two first-place votes in the preseason poll and is ranked No. 7.

"It's just a ranking, in the preseason it doesn't mean anything," HPU coach Tita Ahuna said. "I think the girls will be at least happy to be in the top 25, but we want to be on top for the final poll. Being No. 12 is a good spot, it's not too low and it gives us something to shoot for."

HPU did not receive a first place vote but Brigham Young-Hawaii did. The Seasiders will begin the season No. 18, the only team in the top 25 which didn't finish the season in the top 25. BYUH went 20-2 last year and clinched a spot in the regional but did not compete because of an ineligible player. The Sea Warriors took the Seasiders' spot.

Concordia-St. Paul earned the top spot in the poll with nine first place votes and 811 points.

Kai on Hermann Trophy list

Natasha Kai is among 25 players named to the 2004 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy watch list. The Hermann Trophy is presented to the top female soccer player in NCAA Division I soccer.

The list was compiled by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the official selection body for the Hermann Trophy.

Kai, a junior striker for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine, led Division I in scoring last year with 29 goals and was named a third-team Soccer Buzz All-American.

She recently concluded a year with the United State under-21 Women's National Team that won its sixth consecutive Nordic Cup last month. Kai led the U.S. with 12 goals and had four assists.

A list of 15 semifinalists will be announced in November and pared to three in early December. The winner will be announced at a dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 8, 2005.

Local surfers shine in O'Neil Pro Anglet

Local surfers TJ Barron, Daniel Janes, Dustin Cuizon, Raymond Reichle all advanced to the round of 160 at the O'Neil Pro Anglet in Anglet, France.

Joining them in the next round are fellow Hawaii surfers Ian Walsh, Dustin Barca, and Nathan Carol. Already qualified for the round of 128 from Hawaii are Jason Shibata, Kekoa Bacalso, Sean Moody, and Jesse Jones.

Moynahan wins Aloha Section PGA

Brendan Moynahan fired a 3-under 69 to capture the Aloha Section PGA Club Professional Championship yesterday at The Experience at Koele, Lanai.

The top-six finishers in the event, who all qualified for the Western Regional of the Club Professional Championship, included John Lynch, Brian Sasada, Kevin Carll, Kevin Hayashi, and Matt Pakkala, who had to par the first playoff hole to clinch the sixth and final spot.

---