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The U.S. men’s national volleyball team, with two players from Hawaii in the starting lineup, fell to Canada in the FIVB World League bronze-medal match Sunday in Curitiba, Brazil.
Setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) had 22 assists, seven digs and a kill, and libero Erik Shoji (Punahou) added 12 digs in the 18-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 loss in Arena da Baixada.
Team captain Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani), a reserve setter, came off the bench in all four sets, finishing with seven assists, a block and three digs. Former University of Hawaii middle blocker Taylor Averill did not play.
The U.S. finished the tournament 5-8.
Polynesian Bowl ambassadors announced
NFL players Michael Bennett, Marcus Mariota, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Ronnie Stanley have been named ambassadors for the 2018 Polynesian Bowl.
“I am honored to be part of this special celebration of culture and football,” Tennessee Titans quarterback Mariota said in a news release from the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.
Danny Shelton of the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner will be honorary captains of the all-star game featuring high school standouts of Polynesian and other ethnicities Jan. 20 at Aloha Stadium. Dick Vermeil and Terry Donahue will serve as head coaches.
McKibbin wins first AVP tournament
Punahou graduate Maddison McKibbin and partner Ty Loomis edged Billy Allen and Stafford Slick 24-22, 21-19 in the championship match of the AVP San Francisco Open on Sunday. McKibbin and Loomis previously fell to Allen/Slick in the quarterfinals, but battled back to clinch the title.
The win marks McKibbin’s first career victory on the AVP tour; his previous best finish was fifth-place earlier this year.
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