HAWAII BEAT

UH falls to LaTech at WAC tourney

The Hawaii softball team faces an elimination game today after losing to Louisiana Tech 7-1 in the opening round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament yesterday in Fresno, Calif.

The Rainbow Wahine (29-23) will play the loser of this morning's game between top-seeded Fresno State and Boise State at 1:45 p.m. at Bulldog Diamond.

LaTech shortstop Amberly Waits, the WAC player of the year, went 3-for-4 with a two-run double and solo homer to lead the Lady Techsters (33-21). Jessica Kirby hit a solo homer in the fourth and Danielle Sheridan added a two-run double in the seventh inning.

Julie Franklin homered in the seventh inning for UH's lone run.

Hawaii pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (21-10) surrendered three runs, one earned, in four innings and took the loss. She was relieved by Melissa Gonzalez, who gave up four runs on five hits.

LaTech's Meghan Krieg (19-5) struck out eight in a complete-game performance and picked up her second win over UH this season.

Earlier in the day, Ricketts was named the WAC freshman of the year to lead a group of six UH players receiving All-WAC honors. Outfielder Tanisha Milca and first baseman Amanda Tauali'i were named to the All-WAC first team. Ricketts, Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, Kanani Pu'u-Warren and Clare Warwick were named to the second team.

UH men's volleyball banquet set

The year-end banquet for the Hawaii men's volleyball team is scheduled for May 15 at The Willows.

Honored will be retiring coach Mike Wilton and the Warriors' three seniors: Sean Carney, Mike China and Jim Clar. The cost is $50 for adults and $25 for children ages 4 to 10. The event starts at 6 p.m., with the dinner buffet at 7 p.m.

For information, call 448-6352 (day), 623-6752 (evening) or 630-9303 (cell).

Another championship for Stanley

Former Hawaii opposite Clay Stanley, the men's volleyball MVP of last summer's Olympic Games, helped Zenit Kazan to the Russia Super League title last weekend.

Stanley had 10 kills and four aces in a 25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 25-21 victory over Iskra Odintsovo. The gold medalist has extended his playing contract for another season.

'Bows add size from Juco ranks

After addressing needs on the perimeter with its first two signings, the Hawaii basketball team added some size to the frontcourt with the latest addition to its recruiting class.

UH announced the signing of 7-foot center Douglas Kurtz, a transfer from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, yesterday. Kurtz joins guards Jeremy Lay and Dwain Williams in the Rainbow Warriors' incoming class. The 'Bows have two open scholarships remaining.

“;He runs the floor well and he's a big man. He's not going to get pushed around very easily,”; UH head coach Bob Nash said.

“;We wanted to have a big, aggressive post defender and we got one. We got two shooters on the wing, and now we're still looking for a guy that can slash a little bit more and also shoot from the perimeter. If we can do that, then we've had a good recruiting class.”;

PACWEST PLACE

Vulcans finish 14th in golf regional

Hawaii-Hilo came in 14th at the NCAA Division II men's golf regional in Lincoln, Neb., yesterday.

Logan Goulding finished with a 15-over-par 228 for the Vulcans, good for a 41st-place tie.

Stephen Zane's 76 was the low score of the day for Hawaii-Hilo.

HPU opens tournament with rout

Hawaii Pacific opened the PacWest-Puerto Rico Little World Series baseball tournament with a 20-5 win over Puerto Rico-Bayamon in St. George, Utah.

The tournament continues through Saturday.

The field also includes PacWest teams Grand Canyon, Academy of Art and host Dixie State. The other teams from Puerto Rico are Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras and Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.