U.S. volleyball makes semifinals

A win over Mexico Monday put the U.S. women’s volleyball team, with Kalani High graduate Tamari Miyashiro, into today’s semifinals at the Pam American Games in Mexico.

Team USA defeated Puerto Rico (25-17, 25-18, 25-14) in its opener, then swept Peru (25-19, 25-15, 25-19) before stopping Mexico (25-14, 25-16, 31-29). Miyashiro has collected 24 digs at libero. The team is led by former UCLA coach Andy Banachowski.

In other news involving Hawaii national team players, Lindsey Berg turned in paperwork to play professionally in Italy during the international season. Former UH All-American Heather Bown, Berg’s Olympic teammate, will go to Azerbaijan.

Kari Pestolesi, daughter of former UH All-Americans Diane and Tom Pestolesi, will play in Switzerland.

UH to induct 3 for Circle of Honor

In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Rainbow Wahine sports, three women will be inducted into the University of Hawaii Sports Circle of Honor on Friday.

Comprising the Class of 2011 are the late Patsy T. Mink, All-American soccer player Natasha Kai and All-American softball pitcher Brooke Wilkins.

The three will be inducted in between Sets 2 and 3 of Friday’s volleyball match between Hawaii and Utah State at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Mink co-authored the Title IX amendment of the Higher Education Act, which was later renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity In Education Act.

The 1948 UH graduate went on to serve in the territorial House of Representatives, the territorial and state Senate, followed by two terms in Congress.

Kai was the soccer program’s first All-American and three-time conference player of the year. During her career, she set more than two dozen school and conference records, including career goals (72). She helped the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2008 Olympics.

Wilkins was a two-time All-American who led the Wahine to NCAA regional appearances in 1994 and 1995. She set school career records for wins (58) and strikeouts (585) while playing just two seasons. She was on three Olympic teams for her native Australia, twice winning bronze (1996 and 2000) and silver in 2004. She was inducted into the Softball Australia Hall of Fame in 2008.

Russell places second at tourney

Hawaii-Hilo’s Travis Russell finished in second place at the Lindsay Olive Wildcat Classic golf tournament on Tuesday.

Russell turned in rounds of 76-74-72 in the 54-hole tournament for a 6-over 222 on the Sevillano Links in Corning, Calif.

Russell finished two strokes behind medalist Kyle Souza (220) of Chico State.

Chico State won the team competition at 894, and the Vulcans ended 26 shots back in fifth place.

UHH’s Jamie Hall finished tied for seventh at 225.

Semifinals set in Nike Four-Ball

Four teams moved on to the semifinals with victories in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals yesterday at Oahu Country Club.

Three of the quarterfinal matches were won by scores of 2 and 1 — Kevin Hayashi and Lance Taketa over Norman-Ganin Asao and Lance Suzuki; Andrew Feldmann and Larry Stubblefield over John Bascuk and Leland Lindsay; and Dave Eichelberger and Shane Abe over Damien Jamila and Jerry Mullen.

Ryan Michimoto and Kevin Shimomora defeated Ryan Acosta and Lon Kinder 3 and 2 in the other quarterfinal.

Feldmann and Stubblefield go against Hayashi and Taketa, and Eichelberger and Abe meet Michimoto and Shimomura in today’s semifinals.

Patacchia, Florence make fifth round

Hawaii’s Fred Patacchia and John John Florence surfed into the fifth round of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal on Tuesday.

Florence won his third- and fourth-round heats, and Patacchia got past his fourth-round opponents in 6- to 8-foot waves at Supertubos.

Both surfers lost in the fifth round of the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour event.

Adriano De Souza of Brazil went on to defeat Kelly Slater in the final, 16.67 to 14.73.

Slater is gunning for his 11th world title and can clinch it with a ninth-place finish or better in the next ASP World Tour event, the Rip Curl Search in San Francisco, Nov. 1-12.

Grand Canyon tops Chaminade again

For the second straight day, Grand Canyon swept Chaminade in women’s volleyball in Phoenix.

Caelen Hiller had nine kills to lead the Antelopes (15-6, 9-4 Pacific West Conference) to a 25-18, 25-14, 25-19 victory on Tuesday.

Whitney Viveiros led the Silverswords (2-15, 1-10) with nine kills and 13 digs.