Bolla placed on leave of absence

Hawaii women's basketball coach Jim Bolla has been placed on a leave of absence and did not accompany his team to Ruston, La., for its game last night against Louisiana Tech.

“;Coach Bolla is on leave,”; said UH spokesman Gregg Takayama. “;There's no timetable (for a return) at this time. (Associate coach) Pat Charity is acting head coach at the moment.”;

Bolla was reached by telephone but couldn't comment on the matter.

Wahine fall at Louisiana Tech

Junior guard Megan Tinnin recorded her first double-double but it was not enough as the Hawaii women's basketball team opened its two-game road trip with a 68-56 loss to Louisiana Tech yesterday in Ruston, La.

Tinnin finished with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Rainbow Wahine (5-18, 2-8 Western Athletic Conference). Sophomore guard Keisha Kanekoa led Hawaii with 16 points and senior forward Tara Hittle had 11 rebounds.

Hawaii was again plagued by turnovers, committing 30 to just seven by LaTech (13-11, 6-4).

The Wahine led just once at the Thomas Assembly Center, on Kanekoa's 3-pointer with 18:18 left in the first half that gave Hawaii a 3-2 lead. The Wahine tied it 8-8 on a 3-pointer by Tinnin only to have the Lady Techsters go on a 12-2 run to pull away for good.

Hawaii travels to Las Cruces, N.M., for a game with New Mexico State (7-17, 3-7) tomorrow (2 p.m. Hawaii time).

Wahine softball drops fifth straight

The Hawaii softball team dropped its fifth consecutive game, losing to No. 13 Northwestern 6-2 at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic yesterday in Henderson, Nev.

The Wildcats (3-1) got to Rainbow Wahine pitcher Courtney Baughman early, scoring three runs in the first on four hits and an error. Hawaii (1-5) scored single runs on solo homers by Tanisha Milca in the fifth and Julie Franklin in the seventh.

'Dinosaurs' hit the beach for volleyball

The Oahu Dinosaur Tournament, a beach doubles event where the combined ages of the two players must be at least 80, is scheduled for today and tomorrow at Outrigger Canoe Club.

Among the 16 teams entered are Hawaii's Marc Haine and Kevin Wong; Stevie Li and Pono Ma'a; and Jon Andersen and Stein Metzger. Play begins at 8 a.m. both days.

There is no admission charge. The event is open to the public.

PACWEST PLACE

Vulcans pick up first win in baseball

Jeff Hanna's two-run single to right highlighted a four-run fourth inning as Hawaii-Hilo defeated George Fox 6-3 in yesterday's first game of a nonconference baseball doubleheader at Wong Stadium in Hilo.

UH-Hilo picked up two runs in the fifth on two bases-loaded walks.

The visiting Bruins (2-1) came back to gain a split with the Vulcans (2-2), winning the seven-inning nightcap 6-5.

BYUH stays unbeaten

The second-ranked Brigham Young-Hawaii women's tennis team ran its undefeated record to 4-0 with a shutout of Midwestern State in Phoenix yesterday.

The Seasiders won all six singles matches in straight sets and dropped just one set in three doubles matches against the Mustangs.

» Also in Phoenix, the BYUH men's tennis team rebounded from its first loss of the season with an 8-1 win over Midwestern State.

The Seasiders, losing only at No. 6 singles, improved to 3-1.

» In Phoenix, the Chaminade women's tennis team improved to 3-2 with an 8-1 victory over Western New Mexico.

Seasiders split in softball

Ashley Parry's two-run single highlighted a five-run fourth to lead Brigham Young-Hawaii to a 9-1 win over Simon Fraser in the opener of yesterday's softball doubleheader at the BYUH field.

The Seasiders (2-4) lost to the Clan 5-2 in the second game. SFU's Jennifer Van Egdom had a perfect game going until Tina Moen's two-out single in the sixth; Van Egdom lost the shutout when BYUH scored two in the seventh.