Iseke sets tone as Pacific University's leader

The Pacific University women's volleyball team starts its season today against Southwestern of Texas. There is just one setter on coach Chris Stanley's team -- junior Anela Iseke (Kamehameha '04) from Hauula -- the acknowledged floor leader.

Working in a two-setter system last year, Iseke was among the Northwest Conference leaders with 495 assists and 254 digs. She led the Boxers with 32 aces.

"Having Anela be a calm person who is so competitive will set the tone for us. She is a very durable individual. She makes this team comfortable," Stanley said. "As Anela goes, so will the Boxers' fortunes."

Jamie Furutani (Kalani '03), a senior defensive specialist is expected to see a lot of playing time this year after making 180 digs a year ago and serving 26 aces.

Liz Hart (Seabury Hall '06) made the team as a walk-on during tryouts and is a defensive specialist.

The Boxers play seven ranked teams in their first eight matches. They hope not to have a repeat of last year when they started 7-1, but finished the season 7-19.

Note: Stanley's brother is Jon, the former Olympian who once coached at Kalani, and his nephew is Clay, the former Rainbow Warrior who is with the U.S. National Team.

Correa steps into captain's chair

Travis Correa, a Kamehameha grad and a junior linebacker at Menlo College, is one of five captains for the Oaks. He is the top returning tackler (43.5 in 2005) and led the team with two sacks last year.

Head coach Mark Kaanapu cited Correa "for the toughness and leadership he has exemplified for our defense," in the weekly camp notes put our by sports information director Chris Giovannetti.

Menlo begins play this year as a football-only member of the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference.

Eighteen other local players are on the Oaks roster.

Kawai Akina, a defensive back from Kamehameha, is the only senior.

The juniors are Daniel Carvalho, a wide receiver from Honokaa; linebackers Aaron Luis from Kalaheo and Asti Merino from Kamehameha and offensive linemen Sterling Ohia from Aiea; and J.D. Puli from Kailua.

The sophomore is defensive lineman Christian Gibson from Kalaheo.

The freshmen are Koa Aiwohi, a defensive back, and Chris Aiwohi-Kegler, a wide receiver, both from Kamehameha-Hawaii; defensive linemen Scott Haneberg from Punahou, Palea Kalili from Konawaena and Kanai Kanahele from Kailua; wide receivers Kekai Kealoha from Iolani and Chris Unemori from Punahou; defensive backs Moe Manuma from Kamehameha, Andrew Sumaylo from Radford and Sean Murphy from Punahou, and Kekoa Osurman, a running back from Mililani.

Hardimon putting up stats at St. John's

Patti Hardimon (Moanalua '03) made the Big East Conference weekly honor roll after leading the St. John's women's volleyball team to three victories last weekend.

The tri-captain had 13 kills and 12 digs vs. New Hampshire, 12 kills vs. Bucknell and 17 against host Fairfield in the tournament's championship match.

Hardimon, a senior who transferred to the Red Storm after two seasons at Chaminade, averaged 4.67 kills and 2.67 digs per game while hitting .292. The 5-foot-8 outside hitter also served six aces.

Kaimana Lee (Seabury Hall), a senior setter for George Washington, had 130 assists and 29 digs to help the Colonials win the inaugural DC Challenge last weekend.

The Colonials defeated Georgetown 30-28, 24-30, 30-17, 30-27, American U. 19-20, 30-26, 30-25, 30-25 and George Mason 30-26, 30-21, 29-31, 30-21.

Monarisa Ale (Kahuku '04) had 25 kills last weekend as the Utah State women's volleyball team got off to a 2-1 start, beating UC Riverside and New Mexico while losing to Stephen F. Austin.

The junior opposite hitter's best match was a 14-kill, 14-dig effort against the New Mexico Lobos.

Virginia Aguilar (Waimea '03) has been selected by a vote of coaches to repeat as the American Southwest Conference West Division Player of the Year.

The senior middle blocker for Hardin-Simmons had 367 kills and hit .320 last season for the NCAA Division III Cowgirls.

Hardin-Simmons also was picked to repeat as the ASC West Division Champions.

Loo leads Bengals to upset of Cougars

Jennifer Loo (Mililani '03) scored in the 27th minute to give the Idaho State Bengals a 1-0 lead over Brigham Young, ranked 20th in the Soccer Buzz Top 25 poll, but the host Cougars rallied for a 2-1 overtime win Tuesday.

Loo drilled a free kick from midfield that beat the BYU goalkeeper. It was her first 2006 goal and came on her second shot.