Hawaii players on Team USA

Hawaii’s Micah Christenson, Taylor Crabb and Joshua Taylor were named to the 12-player U.S. Men’s Junior National Volleyball team yesterday. The team will compete at the NORCECA Men’s Junior (21-under) Continental Championships, Aug. 16-21 in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

The team was picked from the 19 members of the U.S. Men’s Junior National Training Team, which has been working out in Ohio.

The top two teams at NORCECA qualify for the 2011 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championship.

Christenson, Crabb and Taylor played on the 2009 boys youth team that finished 10th at the FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship in Italy. At that tournament, Christenson became the youngest starting setter ever to compete for the United States on a national team. He was also on this year’s boys youth national team that finished second to Cuba at the NORCECA Boys’ Youth Championship in April.

Christenson is a senior at Kamehameha. Crabb and Taylor were Punahou teammates. Crabb has graduated, while Taylor is now a senior.

Kono close to qualifying

Punahou graduate Stephanie Kono shot an even-par 72 and is tied for 16th after the first round of qualifying yesterday at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. The USGA event is being played at Charlotte Country Club in North Carolina.

The top 64 after today’s second qualifying round advance to match play. Pennsylvania’s Rachel Rohanna is in the lead after firing a tournament-record 65. Natalie Gulbis, Amanda Blumenhurst and Kellee Booth previously shared the record at 66.

Punahou sophomore Kacie Komoto shot 83 and is tied for 149th in the field of 156.

Kono earned All-America honors her first two seasons at UCLA. She is one of four golfers in the field who played on this year’s victorious Curtis Cup team. Kono also qualified for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open.

The 36-hole championship final is scheduled for Sunday.

Team Hawaii wins lifeguard contest

Matthew DuBrule and Team Hawaii-Aloha Surf won the United States Lifeguard Association Nationals at Huntington Beach, Calif., on Sunday.

Hawaii scored 215.25 points to beat Destin Beach Patrol (Fla.) by 94 points to win the B division, and would have finished third in the bigger A division.