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Vulcans up in poll, down on court

BILLINGS, Mont. » Hawaii-Hilo's Skip Esene scored 23 points, but it wasn't enough to compensate for Montana State-Billings making 41 free throws last night as the Vulcans fell to the Yellowjackets 105-95 in a Pacific West Conference basketball game.

The loss snapped Hilo's five-game winning streak. Earlier in the day, the Vulcans learned they had moved up to No. 13 in the NABC NCAA II Top 25 poll.

Alex Cabagnot added 16 points and Kimo Keiter-Charles 12. The Yellowjackets (13-6, 5-4) were 41-for-52 from the line, compared to the Vulcans going 21-for-26.

Hilo (20-3, 8-3) held an 84-72 lead with 7 minutes to go, only to see Billings go on a 22-2 run.

» At Silver City, N.M., Chris Reaves scored 21 points to lead six Chaminade players in double figures as the Silverswords topped Western New Mexico 92-77.

Corey Campbell added 15 points in coming off the bench for Chaminade (14-8, 7-4).

Warriors remain No. 3 in coaches poll

The Hawaii volleyball team remained ranked third in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 15.

The Warriors (8-1, 6-0 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) received 208 points. They trail unanimous No. 1 UCLA (10-1, 240 points) and No. 2 Pepperdine (6-1, 217).

Hawaii has the week off and will next host USC (3-9, 1-6) in MPSF matches Feb. 17-18.

Seasiders tie their NCAA tennis record

The top-ranked Brigham Young-Hawaii women's tennis team tied its own NCAA record by winning its 103rd consecutive dual match Monday, shutting out Chaminade 9-0.

The Seasiders are now 206-1 since moving to the NCAA Division II level from the NAIA in 1998. The overall NCAA record in tennis is held by the Miami men's team -- 137 straight wins.

Also on Monday, the BYUH men's team swept Chaminade 9-0 to improve to 2-0.

Yoshizawa earns WAC weekly honor

Hawaii junior third baseman Kristi Yoshizawa was named the Western Athletic Conference softball player of the week for her performance in last week's Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.

Yoshizawa, a transfer from Sierra College in Rancho Cordova, Calif., hit .500 in her Rainbow Wahine debut. She was 5-for-10 with three RBIs in earning all-tournament honors.

Jayhawks double up on Vulcans

Jared Schweitzer went 3-for-4 and Kansas dealt UH-Hilo a 16-8 blowout loss at Wong Stadium in Hilo yesterday.

The Jayhawks scored 14 runs in the final five innings to drop the Vulcans. The teams play the final game of the series today.

Kansas (5-0) roughed up Hilo starter John Matson for four runs in 4 2/3 innings and scored on each of the Vulcans' next five pitchers. Chris Campbell led Hilo (0-10) with a pair of hits and three runs scored.

» At Keehi Lagoon Field, freshman Spencer Omalza scattered seven hits in a complete-game victory as Hawaii Pacific defeated Longwood 15-2 Monday.

The Sea Warriors (4-1) pounded out 13 hits, led by Brandon Sato (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Bryan Daguio (2-for-3, 2 RBI). Tyler Jefferson also had a two-run homer in the seventh.

HPU travels to UH-Hilo for a four-game series against the Vulcans on Saturday and Sunday.

Rainbow Wahine open water polo season

The seventh-ranked Hawaii water polo team opens its season this week in California, with matches against five ranked opponents.

The Rainbow Wahine face No. 12 San Jose State tomorrow in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener for both teams.

Hawaii continues MPSF play at No. 3 Stanford on Friday and then competes in the Stanford Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. Pool-play opponents for the Rainbow Wahine are defending NCAA champion and top-ranked USC, No. 6 Cal and No. 11 Indiana.