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The Hawaii beach volleyball team was ranked No. 3 in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Top 10 released Monday.
The Rainbow Wahine, 18-3 last season, finished fifth at the AVCA team championship last May, the AVCA’s last time sponsoring the national tournament. The NCAA takes over sponsorship this season.
Defending national champion USC (28-0) is picked to repeat, with two-time champion Pepperdine (13-6) at No. 2. National runner-up Long Beach State (17 -7) was fourth and Florida State (13-6) fifth.
Rounding out the Top 10 were Florida International (20-3) and UCLA, which tied for sixth; Georgia State (18-3), Arizona (16-1) and Stetson (22-6).
Hawaii opens the season at the Pepperdine Kickoff Tournament, March 5-6, at legendary Zuma Beach, Calif. The field includes the top four ranked teams — USC, Pepperdine, Hawaii and Long Beach State — as well as UCLA.
Hawaii’s first home matches are March 12 against Hawaii Pacific and TCU at Queen’s Beach. The Rainbow Wahine host the top-ranked Women of Troy on March 15 at the year-old T.C. Ching Complex courts.
UH Hilo women win in hoops
Felicia Kolb scored 22 points and Kim Schmelz hit all four of her 3-pointers and added 18 to carry the Hawaii Hilo Vulcans (9-12, 9-7) past Notre Dame de Namur 70-59 in a PacWest Conference women’s basketball at Hilo on Monday.
Farrington alum Kirsten Liana had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Argonauts (3-22, 2-15).
Chaminade, BYUH split in softball
Rainelle Matsuoka homered twice in the second game to propel Chaminade (2-4) past Brigham Young-Hawaii 5-3 for a split of a nonconference doubleheader in Laie.
In the opener, Meghan Wantz pitched the Seasiders (2-6) to a 3-1 victory, getting support from Anu Memea, whose two-run single in the fifth put BYUH ahead to stay.
PacWest honors for HPU players
Hawaii Pacific senior closer Brandon Bonilla, son of former major league slugger Bobby Bonilla, was selected as the PacWest Newcomer of the Week after helping the Sharks sweep a five-game series with Saint Leo (Fla.).
The left-hander made three appearances and recorded two saves while striking out seven over 3 1/3 innings.
In women’s basketball, HPU guard Janessa Manzano earned the conference’s Freshman of the Week award after averaging 15 points a game in the Sharks’ two wins last week.
KIRA Waterman Challenge on Saturday
The Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association hosts the Kona Brewing Co.-Maui Jim Waterman Challenge, a multi-discipline sprint race event, Saturday at Kailua Beach.
The adult race consists of a 300-meter swim, 2-mile stand-up paddleboard, a 2-mile OC-1 and a 1-mile prone paddleboard with shorter distances for juniors (under 16). There also is a coed category for three-person teams that must have at least one female at shorter distances than the adult race.
The competition begins with the swim portion at 9 a.m. The race-day registration fee for adults is $40 for one discipline, $50 for up to five; it’s $20 for juniors under 18 and free for those under 16.
Tinman Duathlon coming up
Registration for the second Tinman Duathlon, a run-swim-run event on March 6, is open.
The event begins at 7 a.m. at Ala Moana Beach Park and is open to individuals and teams. The race is comprised of a 2-mile run, an 800-meter swim, and a second 2-mile run. Entry forms and information are available at tinmanhawaii.com. Online registration is available at active.com.
Roller derby home season opens Feb. 27
Pacific Roller Derby opens its home season with a “Star Wars”-themed bout on Feb. 27 at the U.S. Coast Guard Hideaway Club.
Doors open at 3 p.m. with competition at 4 p.m. General admission is $10; there is no charge for ages 12 and under.
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