Ma and Su win doubles qualifier
Former Brigham Young-Hawaii standouts Rong Ma and Wei Yu Su captured the men’s doubles title in the U.S. Open National Playoff Sectional Qualifying tournament with a 6-1, 3-6, 10-1 win over Ikaika Jobe and Kawika Lam on Saturday at Central Oahu Regional Park.
Big Island duo Sara Tsukamoto and Diana Wong claimed the women’s doubles crown with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Cal State Northridge teammates Kristen Poei and Scout Shutter.
Ma faces top-seeded Jesse Witten of Florida at 9 a.m in today’s men’s singles final. Eva Raszkiewicz of New York faces Tsukamoto at 11:30 in the women’s final.
The winners of the sectional qualifier advance to the U.S. Open National Playoffs in New Haven, Conn., in August. The national playoff winners earn a wild card into the main draw of the U.S. Open. Witten won the men’s singles title at the national playoff last year.
U.S. men’s volleyball team falls to Brazil
The U.S. men’s national volleyball team, with three players from Hawaii on the roster, took its first loss in FIVB World League play, falling to host Brazil 3-1 on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro.
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Setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) had 15 assists, a block and an ace, and libero Erik Shoji (Punahou) added seven digs in the 25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 25-22 loss at Carioca Arena. Reserve setter Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani) was used as a serving sub in Set 2 and recorded one assist.
The U.S. (2-1) next faces Belgium (2-1) in Rome on Thursday.
Annual sports festival returns Saturday
ESPN 1420’s 6th Annual Sports Festival presented by Kaiser Permanente will be held Saturday at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.
The event will feature nearly 100 vendor booths featuring the latest in sports, health and fitness products and services. The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission.
For more information on becoming a vendor, please call station sales manager Sheldon Nagata at 534-7102.