Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Wahine-Nebraska match a sellout
It's nothing new that, when the Hawaii women's volleyball team comes to town, it's usually the biggest crowd of the season for an opponent.
That again will be the case Sunday when No. 1 Nebraska (17-0, 10-0 Big 12) hosts the No. 11 Rainbow Wahine (16-3, 10-0 WAC). Only this time, the crowd will make it into the NCAA record book as the largest for a regular-season match.
The contest at the 13,595-seat Bob Devaney Sports Center is a sellout, a first for NU volleyball. The Huskers are also part of the current NCAA record: 13,081 watched Nebraska defeat Penn State at the Qwest Center in Omaha on Sept. 2.
While Hawaii continues to lead the country in home attendance, averaging 6,440, Nebraska can claim three of the top four crowds this season. The Huskers also are involved in all seven of the NCAA's largest regular-season attendance marks, including the previous high of 12,504 set against Colorado in 2002.
Sunday's record comes a day after Nebraska celebrates its 100th consecutive sellout of the NU Coliseum (4,030), the usual home court for Husker volleyball.
Dolphins sign Mahelona
Former Kealakehe and University of Tennesee standout Jesse Mahelona signed with the Miami Dolphins yesterday.
The defensive tackle played his rookie season with Tennessee last year, but was dropped earlier this season.
Kontos, Sharks blank Honu
George Kontos pitched five strong innings and struck out 11 as the Honolulu Sharks beat the North Shore Honu 2-0 in Hawaii Winter Baseball last night.
Tyler Wilson pitched the ninth for the save, preserving a six-hit shutout.
Fuminori Yokogawa's triple and Tyler Flowers' sacrifice fly drove in the Sharks' runs.
» Waikiki catcher Michael McKenry hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the BeachBoys a 7-6 win over the West Oahu CaneFires.
UH loses matches in tourney
Hawaii's doubles team of Jeff Fitch and Craig Faulk lost to Arizona's Jay Goldman and Claudio Christen 8-3 yesterday in the first day of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Western Regional Championships at Malibu, Calif.
In singles, UH's Spence Mendoza lost a three-set match to San Diego State's Andre Feliz. 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.
» The Old Airport men's tennis 4.5 team from Kailua-Kona won the USTA National League Championships in Tucson, Ariz., recently.
Team players are Jim Anderson, Gifford Matsuoka, Nainoa Depontes, Hector Mendoza, Chris Wigen, Dru Kanuha, Mark Deckwitz, Jerome Kanuha, Lawrence Lowe, Lyle Kaneshiro and Jayme Depontes.
Vitale to fight in California
Hawaii mixed-martial-arts fighter Falaniko Vitale will be part of a single-elimination middleweight tournament that will headline Strikeforce's return to San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 16.
Vitale (24-7) will be part of a 10-fight card against an opponent to be named. The winner will potentially be awarded the opportunity to challenge world middleweight champion Frank Shamrock, according to organizers.
[ PACWEST PLACE ]
Seasiders sweep Argonauts
Brigham Young-Hawaii's Noelle Filimoeatu had 14 klls and Faylynn Merrick added 12 to lead the Seasiders past Notre Dame De Namur (Belmont, Calif.) 30-14, 30-22, 30-22 in a women's volleyball match last night in Laie.
Emily Evans led the Argonauts attack with 12 kills.
BYUH improved to 5-4. NDNU fell to 6-4.
Vulcans seventh in Far West Region
Hawaii-Hilo is ranked seventh in the NCAA Division II Far West Region women's soccer poll.
The Vulcans (7-3) have a chance to be one of six teams from each the eight regions to qualify for the NCAA championship.