Undefeated Hawaii remained at No. 2 in the AVCA Division I-II Coaches Top 15 poll for a fifth consecutive week.
The Rainbow Warriors (10-0), tying their program record for consecutive straight-set victories with Sunday’s sweep of Lincoln Memorial, stayed behind unanimous No. 1 Long Beach State in Monday’s rankings. The defending NCAA champion 49ers (13-0) received all 16 first-place votes.
Hawaii opens Big West play on March 1 at UC Irvine (13-2), which stayed at No. 3. Behind the Anteaters (13-2) were Pepperdine (10-2) and UC Santa Barbara (13-3), which both moved up a spot after the Gauchos upset then-No. 4 UCLA last Wednesday.
The Bruins (10-4) dropped to sixth after two consecutive losses, including being swept at Long Beach State on Saturday.
Mopas earns PacWest baseball honor
Hawaii Pacific left fielder Jordan Mopas was named the PacWest Conference baseball player of the week on Monday.
Mopas, a senior from Ewa Beach, led the Sharks to three wins against UH Hilo. He went 8-for-15 in the series with 12 RBIs and eight runs scored.
The Sharks (11-3, 1-1 PacWest) will face Biola in a four-game series beginning Saturday at Hans L’Orange Park.
HPU softball sweeps Marymount
The Hawaii Pacific softball team won both games in its doubleheader with Marymount College at Sand Island Park on Monday.
The Sharks (6-8) won the first game 5-2 with seven hits. They scored three runs in the bottom of the first and their last two in the sixth. Jordan Curry allowed two hits through five innings for the win.
In the second game, the Sharks scored five runs in the sixth inning to secure an 8-4 win.
Alexis Morales pitched all seven innings for the Sharks, allowing five hits and four walks.
Chaminade softball splits doubleheader
The Chaminade softball team split its games against British Columbia on Monday at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.
In the first game, the Silverswords (3-4) won 8-0 in six innings behind Madelyn Stockslager’s four-hit shutout.
The Thunderbirds (2-2) won the second game 16-2 in five innings with a 15-run third inning.
HPU women’s hoops wins, men lose
The Hawaii Pacific women’s basketball team defeated Concordia Irvine 76-53 on Monday in Irvine, Calif.
The Sharks (18-7, 16-3 PacWest) were led by Breanna Mackenzie’s 22 points and Samantha Lambrigtsen’s 14 points.
Michaela Vanderklugt led the Eagles (10-14, 9-10 PacWest) with 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Sharks are tied for second in the PacWest Conference with Azusa Pacific. They travel to San Diego next to play against Point Loma, with tipoff at 3:30 p.m.
>>The Hawaii Pacific men’s basketball team lost to Concordia Irvine 92-67 on Monday.
The Sharks (7-17, 4-15 PacWest) were led by Ronald Blain’s 12 points and three rebounds.
The Eagles (20-8, 16-3 PacWest) were led by Brian Chambers’ 21 points and four rebounds.
The men also face Point Loma on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Bush receives PacWest player of the week
UH Hilo senior guard Larry Bush recieved the PacWest Conference men’s basketball player of the week on Monday after playing two of his highest scoring games last week.
Bush scored a league-best 53 points last week. He had a season-high 27 points in an 81-77 win against No. 12 Point Loma. He then scored 26 points in a 98-81 loss to Concordia Irvine.
The Vulcans (11-11, 9-9 PacWest) continue their Southern California road trip with games against Biola today and Azusa Pacific on Thursday.
Igawa shoots 74 in first round in Texas
UH Hilo’s Andi Igawa shot a first-round 74 to land in 10th place on day one of the SEU Invitational in Austin, Texas.
The senior from Hilo had three birdies was three shots back of leader Regina Gonzalez of Saint Mary’s, who opened with a 71.
Casey Leatherman of Tarleton State and Peerada Piddon of Arkansas Tech were tied for second at 72.
