The U.S. men’s national volleyball team, with two players from Hawaii in the starting lineup, swept Russia in an FIVB Volleyball Nations League pool-play match in Chicago.
The U.S. advances to today’s semifinal at noon against Brazil in a rematch of last year’s bronze-medal match in this event, a match won by the Americans.
Micah Christenson (Kamehameha) was at setter the entire match, finishing with a kill and two blocks, with Erik Shoji (Punahou) at libero. Reserve setter Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani) and setter-hitter Micah Ma’a (Punahou) did not play.
In today’s other semifinal defending VNL champion Russia faces Poland.
Former University of Hawaii Wahine players Toeaina, Salanoa play in Pacific Games
Former Hawaii women’s basketball players Sarah Toeaina and Leah Salanoa combined to score 27 points in American Samoa’s 100-41 rout of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Games today.
Toeaina, who shot 7-for-9 from the field in 18 minutes of play, has scored in double figures in each win for American Samoa (3-0), which swept pool competition. Leah Salanoa shot 4-for-7, while her twin, Lahni, did not play.
American Samoa next plays on Tuesday in the semifinals of the Olympic-style competition between island nations and territories of the Pacific.
Loeb upsets No. 1 seed Osuigwe in Honolulu tennis event
Unseeded Jamie Loeb upset top seed Whitney Osuigwe in the quarterfinal round of the Tennis Championships of Honolulu at the UH Tennis Complex on Friday.
Osuigwe was formerly ranked No. 1 on the junior circuit and is the reigning International Tennis Federation world champion.
In another quarterfinal, Usue Maitane Arconada took down 23-year-old Mayo Hibi of Japan in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, leaving an all-American group for the semifinals. Second-seeded Nicole Gibbs and Caroline Dolehide will meet in the other semifinal.
In the doubles semifinals, top-seeded Caroline Dolehide and Usue Maitane Arconada beat fourth-seeded Taiwan pair Pei Hsuan Chen and Fang-Hsien Wu in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. The third-seeded pair of Quinn Gleason and Maegan Manasse fell to Hayley Carter and Loeb in three sets, 3-6, 6-1, 11-9.
