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Berg and Miyashiro help Team USA
Team USA, with three players with Hawaii ties on the roster, defeated Germany on Friday in the FIVB World Grand Prix pool play opener in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Captain Lindsey Berg (Punahou) started at setter, and Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani) was a defensive sub as the two-time defending World Grand Prix champion U.S. team won 25-17, 25-15, 23-25, 25-11.
Also on the roster is former Hawaii All-American middle Heather Bown, who did not play Friday. The Americans take on Chinese Taipei today and host Dominican Republic on Sunday.
Florence advances in Fiji Pro
Hawaii surfer John John Florence advanced to the quarterfinals of the Volcom Fiji Pro earlier today by winning both of his heats at a break called Restaurants off Tavarua.
Florence crushed it in 4- to 6-foot waves, defeating Adrian Buchan of Australia in Round 3 while putting up a 19.30 score out of a possible 20. Buchan’s two waves totaled 11.67. Florence then pulled off a perfect 10 wave in his Round 4 heat on his way to a 13.17 score. He defeated American Damien Hobgood (11.94) and Aussie Taj Burrow (9.13) in the three-man heat.
“I didn’t have the best heat, but I had that one really good wave,” Florence said on the ASP World Tour’s website.
Hawaii’s Fredrick Patacchia lost his Round 3 heat to 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, 18.14-12.50, and was eliminated. Florence, Slater, and Brazilians Adriano De Souza and Gabriel Medina have advanced to the quarters.
The contest will continue Sunday, surf permitting