Maui fans pumped about UH visit

By Fred Guzman

MauiNow.com

Saturday’s visit by the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team has caused quite a stir among fans on the Valley Isle. In fact, War Memorial Gym’s capacity – estimated at 2,500 — could be tested when the eighth-ranked Rainbows tangle with fourth-ranked BYU in a 5 p.m. match. Part of attraction, of course, is that this is going to be a “real” match with implications in the powerful Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase – while they last — at the Pacific Radio Group offices at 311 Ano Street — $8 for adults, $3 for ages 4 to 18. Cash only. Our offices close at 4 p.m.

Before then, the two teams will tangle tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center. BYU currently leads the conference with a 7-3 mark and is 9-4 overall. Hawaii is 8-5 for the season and 4-4 in the MPSF.

PREP WRESTLING: The Lahainaluna boys are regarded as serious contenders for a team title in the state wrestling championships that begin a two-day run this morning at the Blaisdell Arena. Holden Mowatt, a 152-pounder, is the only MIL boy wrestler to gain a No. 1 seed, but five other Lunas are among the top four seeds in their respective weight classes. Maui High’s Ty Estabilo is ranked second at 145. On the girls’ side, Lahainaluna’s Gina-Bella Mataafa is ranked first at 175, while three other MIL athletes are seeded second. They are: Kazia Leckett of the Lunas at 103, Makanalani Hussey of the Lunas at 140, and Molokai’s Chelsie David at 220.

UH HOOPS: Count me among those who felt Bob Nash deserved the opportunity to succeed Riley Wallace as basketball head coach at UH. But as we approach the end of Nash’s third year on the job, it’s fair to wonder if the former Rainbows’ star and longtime assistant is in over his head.

Last night, Hawaii suffered its ninth straight loss, dropping a 61-50 decision to Utah State and tumbled into last place in the WAC with marks of 9-18 overall and 2-11 in the conference.

The Aggies improved to 23-6 overall with their 13th consecutive victory, and are in first place in the WAC at 12-2

Hawaii has three regular-season games remaining, including Saturday’s home finale against Nevada. Frankly, I would be surprised if Nash is back on UH’s bench next season – although, considering the athletic department’s financial woes, maybe I shouldn’t be.

Slightly more than one full season since reviving its baseball program, Oregon rolled into Les Murakami Stadium as the nation’s 25th-ranked baseball team.

The Ducks were brought down to earth last night as Hawaii parlayed a three-run first-inning, a solid mound outing by Nate Klein and a fifth-inning solo homer by Jeffrey Van Doornum for a 4-3 win.

The four-game series continues tonight, with UH taking a 2-3 mark into the contest after going 1-3 in last week’s season-opening series against 10th-ranked Oregon State.