Wahine make debut in softball poll
A perfect weekend in Las Vegas propelled the University of Hawaii softball team into this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll.
The Rainbow Wahine (12-0) made their first appearance in the rankings this season at No. 25 in the NFCA poll released Tuesday. UH is just outside the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25, moving up to 26th this week.
UH went 6-0 in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, outscoring its opponents 62-6 in the tournament. The Wahine are off to the best start in the program’s history and lead the Western Athletic Conference in hitting (.375) and earned-run average (0.66).
The Wahine are off this week and will next host the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, March 2-4. The field includes Florida State (9-0), UC Santa Barbara (1-10) and Radford (0-1). Florida State is 25th in this week’s USA Softball rankings and 27th in the NFCA poll.
Florida (9-0) tops this week’s NFCA poll and California (8-0), which will play in UH’s Spring Fling tournament, March 13-17, is No. 1 in the USA Softball poll.
NDNU edges Hawaii-Hilo in hoops
Tyler Fricke scored 22 points to lead Notre Dame de Namur to a 59-56 men’s basketball win over Hawaii-Hilo on Tuesday in Belmont, Calif.
Arron Mollet added 16 points for the Argonauts (10-14, 6-10 Pacific West Conference).
Terrell Mack led the Vulcans (8-14, 2-12) with 19 points.
UHH women roll past Notre Dame de Namur
Hillary Hurley had 14 points and 11 rebounds as Hawaii-Hilo defeated Notre Dame de Namur 60-49 in women’s basketball in Belmont, Calif., on Tuesday.
Kirsten Shimizu, Jameia McDuffie and Shannon Rousseau all had nine points for the Vulcans (11-11, 8-6 PacWest).
Natellie Saia scored 14 points and Pilar Mullins pulled down 11 rebounds for the Argonauts (6-18, 4-12).
Hawaii Pacific downs Academy of Art
Paris Gravely scored 22 points to lead Hawaii Pacific to an 88-74 win over Academy of Art on Tuesday in San Francisco.
Susannah Walmsley added 20 points for the Sea Warriors (14-10, 8-6 PacWest).
Ariel Dale had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Urban Knights (15-8 11-4).
HPU upends AAU in men’s hoops
Fran Urli scored 22 points to power Hawaii Pacific to an 80-69 men’s basketball win over Academy of Art on Tuesday in San Francisco.
LaBrent Chappell dropped in 14 points for the Sea Warriors (10-12, 5-9 PacWest).
Czar Robotham scored 20 points for the Urban Knights (3-22, 1-14).
UHH places third in golf tourney
Hawaii-Hilo placed third with a two-round 641 in the Lady Rattler Roundup golf tournament, hosted by St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.
St. Edward’s (Austin, Texas) won the tourney with a 618.
UHH’s Kristen Sawada and Kacie Harada both shot 159 for two rounds and tied for ninth.
Jessica Pickwick of Tarleton State (Stephenville, Texas) was the medalist with a 150.
4 tennis teams win section titles
Four Oahu teams won U.S. Tennis Association Senior Mixed Doubles League Section championships last weekend at the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park Tennis Complex. About 130 players on 10 teams competed in the Hawaii Pacific sectional in the second year of senior mixed doubles.
Breakaway, captained by Avis Tamura, and Last Call, captained by Charlene Dannenberg, defeated opposing teams in the 7.0 and 8.0 divisions to advance to national championships on the mainland in April. NaKolohe, captained by Gerri Yoshida, and Second Wind, captained by Carlo Balmilero, won the 6.0 and 9.0 divisions to advance.
