UH-Hilo’s Kristen Sawada continued the strong start to her senior season, firing a 1-over 73 to tie for third after the first round of the Western Washington University.
UH-Hilo’s Kristen Sawada continued the strong start to her senior season, firing a 1-over 73 to tie for third after the first round of the Western Washington University.
The Lady Vulcans shot 34-over 326 and were 22 shots behind first-place Northwestern State.
Sawada, who was coming off a fourth-place finish at the St. Martin’s Invitational, was three shots behind St. Martin’s Jennifer Liedes.
Also for UH-Hilo, s ophomore Andi Igawa (81) was in a tie for 23rd; freshman Shantel Antonio and junior Alison Tengan were tied for 43rd and 49th place, respectively, after 85s; sophomore Mariah Paiste carded a 103 and was 61st; playing as an individual, freshman Kimberley Katayama (104) was 62nd.
UH middle nabs Big West honor
When Olivia Magill wasn’t stuffing Long Beach State, she was putting down kills with ruthless efficiency.
For her efforts, the University of Hawaii middle blocker Monday was named the Big West’s Women’s Volleyball Player Defensive Player of the Week.
Magill finished with 19 blocks last week, with 11 coming Sunday in a rousing victory against rival Long Beach State, 22-25, 25-12, 16-25, 25-21, 15-8, in front of 8,433 fans at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
Magill is fifth in the nation with 1.63 blocks per set for the nation’s best blocking team.
The Rainbow Wahine (16-1, 6-0 Big West) posted a season-high 20 blocks, and Nikki Taylor, Kalei Greeley and Tai Manu-Olevao each finished with 12 kills as UH’s 11th consecutive victory came against a Long Beach State team that twice beat it last season en route to the league title.
Taylor made an uncharacteristic nine errors, but UH’s leading hitter got help.
In addition to tying her season-high in blocks, Magill came through with eight kills and no errors, and Manu-Olevao recorded her first double-double of the season, adding 12 digs, and Hawaii raced ahead in the fifth set on her serve.
Setter Kendra Koelsch compiled nine blocks to go along with 41 assists and 13 digs.
Hawaii’s block helped it overcome .194 hitting. The 49ers (14-5, 4-2) hit just .097. Nele Barber finished with 16 kills.