U.S. men into World League final round
The U.S. men’s national volleyball team, with two players from Hawaii in the starting lineup, defeated host Serbia on Sunday, the final day of intercontinental play, to claim a spot in the World League Final Six, which takes place in Florence, Italy, later this month.
Setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha, USC) and libero Erik Shoji (Punahou, Stanford) helped the U.S. to a 25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 25-20 win in front of 7,600 fans in Belgrade’s Pionir Hall.
The U.S. (9-3) won Pool B to advance to the July 16-20 competition. A loss Sunday would have eliminated the Americans.
Christenson had two kills, a block and an ace. No assist or dig statistics were available. Setter Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani, Stanford) did not play.
U.S. women beat Brazil for second time
The U.S. women’s national team warmed up for its trip to Honolulu with a 25-21, 25-23, 25-20 win over No. 1 Brazil on Sunday at USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles.
Alix Klineman and Kelsey Robinson, starting their first matches at the senior level, combined for 35 points. Klineman, who recently switched from outside hitter to opposite, turned in a match-high 19 points with 14 kills on 27 attacks, three blocks and two aces. Robinson added 13 kills on 25 attacks with just one error, along with two blocks and an ace.
Setter Alisha Glass had Team USA hitting .450 for the match. Libero Nicole Davis, who played at USC, had a team-high 11 digs.
Brazil was led by Fe Garay with eight points, while Fabiana and Thaisa pocketed seven points.
Team USA outblocked Brazil 7-1 and held a 6-2 advantage in aces.
The U.S. won the opening match of the USA Volleyball Cup 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19 on Saturday evening in Irvine, Calif.
The four-match USA Volleyball Cup finishes Friday and Saturday with 7 p.m. matches at the Stan Sheriff Center.
UH hoops team loses recruit to Saint Mary’s
University of Hawaii basketball recruit Tyler Harville decided against following up on his commitment to play for the Rainbow Warriors as a preferred walk-on for the 2014-15 season.
Harville, a 5-foot-11 incoming freshman known for his shooting prowess out of the Vermont Prep Academy, told the Star-Advertiser on Sunday he will attend Saint Mary’s of the West Coast Conference instead of UH. He said his decision was made in part because former UH assistant Scott Fisher, Harville’s primary contact with the ‘Bows, is no longer in Manoa.
Fisher is now the head coach at Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif.
"Fisher got me over here," Harville said while in the islands on vacation with his family. "After Fisher left, nobody … I didn’t hear from any of the coaches for a good month and a half. They didn’t show as much love as Saint Mary’s did. Just a better situation for me, but no hard feelings or nothing. Just a better opportunity."