Wie survives at Corning Classic

Honolulu’s Michelle Wie will play through to the weekend at the LPGA Corning Classic in Corning, N.Y., after shooting a 5-under 67 yesterday for a two-day total of 4-under 140. She bettered the cut by one.

The Punahou School graduate enters today’s third round tied for 52nd and trails 36-hole leader Karine Icher by 10 shots.

Wie opened with a 73 in an indifferent round Thursday. Yesterday, she hit seven of 14 fairways and 14 greens in regulation and needed only 29 putts. She is averaging a whopping 292.5 yards off the tee.

After making six pars on the back side, Wie closed out the final three holes on her front nine (Nos. 16-18) with birdies to make the turn in 33. She bogeyed the first hole (her 10th), but came back with four more birdies over six holes, before bogeying the par-4 eighth and parring the ninth.

Rainbow Wahine wait for coach

While the University of Hawaii announced its new men's volleyball coach yesterday, the selection of a new women's basketball coach isn't imminent.

At least five finalists are known to have been considered in the last few days from a field that started with 85 applicants in late April.

“;We're in the stage of the search where we're conducting interviews,”; said Marilyn Moniz-Kahoohanohano, head of the search committee. “;We don't have a specific date (for a hire).”;

With the spring semester over, some of the Rainbow Wahine players have gone home for the summer and will not meet the new coach until the fall.

“;Of course we wanted to know who is our new coach before everyone leaves,”; junior forward Dita Liepkalne said via e-mail from her native Latvia. “;But since the interest of the opening was so big—it's in our interests that (the) committee takes their time to look at each candidate very carefully and makes the right decision.”;

Former Warriors hit FIVB

Three former Hawaii volleyball players were named yesterday to the 19-player roster for the U.S. men's national team that will compete in next month's FIVB World League.

Selected are ex-Warriors Clay Stanley, an opposite who was the most outstanding player of last summer's Beijing Olympics; middle Delano Thomas and libero Alfred Reft.

Pool play is from June 12 to July 8. The final round is July 22-26 in Serbia.

[ PACWEST PLACE ]

Manago among best in West

UH-Hilo outfielder Keoni Manago was selected a first-team NCAA ABCA/Rawlings West Region selection yesterday.

Manago, a sophomore, was the PacWest player of the year and hit .435 with 15 doubles and 12 stolen bases. The honor makes Manago eligible for national consideration.