Banti helps UCSB score historic win

UC Santa Barbara junior Ali Santi took part in one of the biggest wins in school history on Friday.

The 2011 Punahou alumna had 14 assists and five digs in the Gauchos’ five-set victory over Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center, handing the Rainbow Wahine their first Big West loss since re-joining the conference last year.

Santi is in her second year with the Gauchos after transferring from Georgia Tech, where she played for one season.

She’s missed only two matches for UCSB and is currently second on the Gauchos with 208 assists, averaging 4.43 per set. She’s also sixth in digs with 88 (1.83 per set).

Mataele’s big play overruled

UNLV senior Maika Mataele made three catches for 38 yards in Saturday’s 39-37 win over Hawaii at Sam Boyd Stadium.

But it was the catch that was taken away that nearly made the difference.

After Hawaii took a 37-36 lead, Mataele, a 2009 Kamehameha alumnus, appeared to make a sensational diving catch for a 27-yard gain that would have put the ball on the Hawaii 10.

After a lengthy review, the catch was overturned as Mataele was ruled not to have controlled the ball all the way through after hitting the ground. The play wound up not mattering, as UNLV kicked a 44-yard field goal with no time left to seal the win.

UNLV features seven players on its roster from Hawaii, including defensive back Peni Vea (Kealakehe ’11), who made five tackles, and linebacker Tau Lotulelei (Maui ’12), who assisted on a tackle.

Boxers’ historic season continues

Three quarterbacks from Hawaii helped keep the Pacific (Ore.) Boxers undefeated this season.

Seniors T.C. Campbell (Kamehameha ’10) and P.J. Minaya (Hanalani ’10) combined to go 16-for-17 for 238 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-14 homecoming win over Puget Sound on Saturday.

Campbell was a perfect 7-for-7 for 137 yards and a touchdown, while Minaya was 9-for-10 for 101 yards and three scores as Pacific improved to 5-0 for the first time in school history.

Sophomore Warner Shaw (Kamehameha-Hawaii ’12) played in the second half and completed all four of his passes for 50 yards.

Receiver Jordan Fukumoto (Saint Louis ’10) caught touchdown passes from both Campbell and Minaya and finished with seven grabs for a game-high 103 yards. Kamana Pimental (Saint Louis ’12) had two catches for 27 yards and Kelson Kawai (Kohala ’10) hauled in an 18-yard pass.

Running back Bronson Barretto (Kamehameha ’12) was second on the team with 33 rushing yards on eight carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter to push Pacific’s lead to 49-7. Defensively, senior Kamu Morita (Kamehameha ’10) had four tackles and a sack and Trey Kodama (Kamehameha ’12) made four tackles and broke up a pass.