Moore maintains slim lead for world title

Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore kept her lead in the World Championship Tour rankings on Wednesday, but just barely.

Moore finished equal third at the Roxy Pro France in Seignosse Le Penon. She is 200 points ahead of Australian Tyler Wright, who finished second to fellow Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons.

Moore must finish ahead of Wright at the tour’s final stop in Portugal, beginning next week, to assure herself of a second world title. That is unless both are eliminated in the same round before the quarterfinals.

ASP rules stipulate that the world title is decided by a surfer’s best seven finishes on the eight-event circuit. Moore’s worst finish to-date is a fifth at Taranaki, New Zealand. Wright’s is a ninth-place finish at the same event. Therefore, Wright’s throwaway score would cost her fewer points than Moore’s.

On Wednesday, Moore won her quarterfinal heat over Pauline Ado of France 16.27 to 14.90. Moore then lost to Fitzgibbons, 17.33-9.83, in the semifinals.

Also Wednesday, Hawaii’s Coco Ho, Malia Manuel and Alana Blanchard were eliminated in the fourth round.

U.S. men advance to semis in volleyball

A 25-19, 25-17, 25-9 sweep of the Dominican Republic Tuesday night pushed the U.S. men’s national team into a Friday semifinal at the NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship. It is being played at Langley Events Center in British Columbia, Canada.

The Americans (2-0) won Group A. Saturday’s champion qualifies for the FIVB Grand Champions Cup in November, along with the five other zonal winners.

Reid Priddy led the U.S. with 15 points, in his first competitive match with the team since the 2012 Olympics. Middle blocker Futi Tavana, from Kalaheo, scored seven points. Honolulu’s Micah Christenson was the U.S. setter and contributed a kill, three blocks and an ace. Libero Erik Shoji, also from Honolulu, collected seven digs.