Hawaii All-American middle blocker Taylor Averill was one of 12 players selected to play for the U.S. men’s volleyball team at the Pan American Games later this month in Toronto.
Averill helped the Rainbow Warriors to an NCAA championship tournament berth last May as a senior. The team manager is former UH All-American Tom Pestolesi.
The U.S. opens pool play against Puerto Rico July 17 and has other pool-play matches against Mexico and Canada. The other pool consists of Argentia, Brazil, Colombia and Cuba.
The quarterfinals are July 19, the semifinals on July 24 and the medal rounds on July 26.
Bourne-Hyden advance at beach tourney
Honolulu’s Tri Bourne and partner John Hyden remained unbeaten at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 16 at The Hague, Netherlands.
Bourne (Academy of the Pacific) and Hyden swept Spain’s Francisco Alfredo Marco and Christian Garcia 21-13, 21-18, becoming one of five U.S. teams to move past the Round of 32. Bourne and Hyden face Germany’s Jonathan Erdmann and Kay Matysik on Thursday with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
Two local surfers advance in Ballito Pro
Honolulu’s Keanu Asing and Ezekiel Lau advanced to the Round of 24 at the Ballito Pro at Bathers Beach, South Africa on Wednesday.
Lau posted a 9.80 to advance by a margin of .14, edging Perth Standlick in the sixth heat of Round 2.
Asing scored 14.94 and placed second in his heat, behind France’s Joan Duru. Tanner Hendrickson of Haiku also competed in the same heat as Asing, but missed the cut with a 10.80.
Kauai’s Alex Smith missed the third round with a score of 12.43, behind Brazil’s Michael Rodrigues (17.40) and Australia’s Soli Bailey (14.10). The Ballito Pro is scheduled to resume on Friday.
