Ka‘aihue traded

The Kansas City Royals traded ‘Iolani alum Kila Ka‘aihue to the Oakland Athletics for minor league right-handed pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth on Tuesday, according to MLB.com.

Ka‘aihue, 27, a slugging first baseman, spent most of the season with Triple-A Omaha. He opened the season as Kansas City’s starting first baseman and hit .195 with two homers and six RBIs in 23 games for the Royals.

Lajola makes Futures semifinals

Hawaii’s Dennis Lajola won four matches in qualifying, then advanced to the semifinals of the $10,000 Futures tournament last week in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Lajola, who playe­­­­d No. 1 singles for the University of Hawaii tennis team the past four years, ousted Australians Luke Saville (7-6, 6-1) and Andrew Whittington (6-3, 6-1) in the first two rounds of the main draw. He beat Alessandro-Damiano Ventre, from Brazil, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinals.

Sixth-seeded Steve Johnson, the eventual champion, defeated Lajola in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-4.

It was Lajola’s best performance since turning pro last May, after leading the Rainbows to three conference championships. His professional record this year is 12-9. He has played Challenger and Futures events in Honolulu, Indonesia, Italy, Belgium and California.

Lajola is playing the $10,000 Futures in Laguna Niguel, Calif., this week. His world singles ranking is now No. 939.

Lajola won last year’s Oahu Club Honolulu Masters Championship and the Honolulu Challenger wild card that went with it. On Saturday, former UH teammate Leo Rosenberg captured the singles title and wild card. UH sophomores Jonathan Brooklyn and Danilo Casanova beat Sebastian Bader and Alex Aybar, 6-2, 6-4, for the doubles title.

Dolans in Pan American Games

Hawaii brothers Patrick and Ryan Dolan are on the American sprint kayak team competing at the Pan American Games, Oct. 14-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The kayak events are Oct. 26-29 in Ciudad Guzman.

The Pan American Games are the second and final chance for the U.S. team to qualify for spots in the 2012 Olympic Games. Team USA did not earn any slots at the Sprint World Championships in August. For the U.S. to qualify, it must win its events.

Patrick Dolan will compete in the K4 1,000 meters with twins Luke and Jake Michael, who moved to Hawaii to train. Ryan Dolan is in the K1 200 and K2 200, with Tim Hornsby.

Guy Wilding, who moved the men’s training center to Ala Wai when he took over, is the U.S. men’s national team coach.

UHH’s Hall wins St. Martin’s golf

Hawaii-Hilo’s Jamie Hall fired a 4-under 67 to win the St. Martin’s Invitational golf tournament on Tuesday at Olympia Country and Golf Club in Olympia, Wash.

Hall finished with a two-round total of 3-under 139.

Hawaii-Hilo tied Western Washington for second place at 586, one stroke behind first-place Cal State Stanislaus.

Travis Russell of UHH tied for sixth place individually at 2-over 144.

Hawaii-Hilo stops Grand Canyon

Hillary Hurley pounded 33 kills to lead Hawaii-Hilo to a 25-23, 27-29, 25-18, 25-6 women’s volleyball victory over Grand Canyon on Tuesday in Phoenix.

Nicole Conley had 45 assists and Patty Vine had 19 digs for the Vulcans (9-2, 5-2 Pacific West Conference).

Brooke Blomenkamp led the Antelopes (8-3, 2-1) with 11 kills.

NDNU beats Chaminade in soccer

Oscar Yniguez scored a goal and added two assists to lead Notre Dame de Namur to a 3-0 victory over Chaminade in men’s soccer Tuesday in Belmont, Calif.

Frank Barnes and Jesus Gonzalez also scored goals for the Argonauts (4-3, 1-2 Pacific West Conference).

Kyle Withoft had three shots on goal for the Silverswords (0-7-1, 0-3).

» Massiel Castellanos, Jessica Santos and Hannah Verschelden all scored a goal to lead Notre Dame de Namur to a 3-0 women’s soccer victory over Chaminade in Belmont, Calif.

Alexis Tershay contributed two assists for the Argonauts (2-5-1, 1-1-1 PacWest).

Kanoa Makua made six saves for the Silverswords (1-6, 1-2).

Hawaii Pacific earns national ranking

The Hawaii Pacific men’s soccer team is No. 23 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of American rankings for Division II.

The Sea Warriors, who are No. 3 in the West Region rankings, are off to a 7-1 start.