Soeda drops Lajola in Maui Challenger
Top-seeded Go Soeda needed an hour to defeat Hawaii’s Dennis Lajola in a first-round match at the Maui Challenger tennis tournament on Wednesday at Wailea Tennis Club.
Soeda, who won last year’s Honolulu Challenger, beat Lajola 6-3, 6-1. Soeda is ranked 60th in the world. Lajola, who led Hawaii to Western Athletic Conference championships in 2008, ’09 and ’10, is No. 632. Soeda had six break points and won five. The Japanese pro lost to eighth-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round of the Australian Open a week ago.
In a Challenger match that lasted nearly two hours, second-seeded Tatsuma Ito was upset by Russian Mischa Zverev, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sixth-seeded Denis Kudla needed three sets to hold off Daniel Kosakowski, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Today, Soeda takes on Hawaii Pacific sophomore Petr Michnev on the Stadium Court, following the 10 a.m. opener between Peter Polansky and Alex Bogomolov Jr. The third match is between third-seeded Michael Russell, a two-time winner in Hawaii, and Alex Kuznetsov.
The final of the $50,000 USTA Pro Circuit event is Sunday.
Ladrido leads HPU women in victory
Melody Ladrido scored 21 points to lead Hawaii Pacific past Dominican 77-53 in women’s basketball Wednesday night in San Rafael, Calif., for its sixth straight win.
Mikela Thoemmes pulled in 10 rebounds for the Sea Warriors (11-3, 7-1 Pacific West Conference).
Sarah Nelson scored 12 points with 10 rebounds for the Penguins (5-11, 4-4).
» In the men’s game between the two schools in San Rafael, Calif., Dominican defeated HPU 65-58.
Dominique Taplin led the way for the Penguins (8-7, 4-3) with 11 points.
Malte Ziegenhagen had a game-high 14 points for the Sea Warriors (6-8, 3-4).
Everett to speak at athletic club meeting
ESPN’s Neil Everett will be the featured speaker at the Downtown Athletic Club gathering on Friday at the Hukilau restaurant.
The event is open to the public for a $20 admission fee that includes a buffet lunch. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., with the program starting at noon.
Everett co-hosts the 1 a.m. Eastern time edition of SportsCenter.
He was a sports director and anchor at KGMB before going to ESPN in July 2000.
BYUH signs guard from Utah
Brigham Young-Hawaii signed 6-foot-4 guard Scott Friel to a letter of intent to play for the Seasiders’ men’s basketball team next season.
Friel, from Riverton, Utah, played his freshman season at Southern Utah before leaving to serve on a two-year church mission.
He played in 28 games at Southern Utah as a pass-first point guard, with 60 assists and 74 turnovers.
