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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

HOMEGROWN REPORT
Volleyball's Kabalises spur Nebraska college


By Kalani Takase
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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There aren't a whole lot of places much different from Hilo than Scottsbluff, Neb. But that has done little to hinder Kalei Kabalis.

Kabalis, a two-time Advertiser All-State volleyball player while at Moanalua, is again drawing attention for her court prowess, but for the Cougars of Western Nebraska Community College.

The 5-foot-9 sophomore outside hitter was named a second-team All-American in 2008 and currently leads the nation in kills, putting away 4.57 per set.

Younger sister, Kuulei, a 2009 Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate, is a 5-foot-6 freshman setter.

The sisters have carried the Cougars to a 36-3 record, which included a 26-match win streak. In Sunday's regular-season finale, Kalei put away 13 kills and had 15 digs a sweep of McCook Community College. Kuulei distributed 26 assists with four service aces.

Western Nebraska hopes to extend its season at the Region IX Tournament, which begins Thursday in Sterling, Colo. The winner of the regional advances to the National Tournament, Nov. 20 to 22, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The Cougars won the region last year and finished third nationally.

MORE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

• Washington senior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05 of Käneohe) had 18 digs, four kills and three assists in a four-set win at Arizona Friday. In Sunday's sweep of Arizona State, Miyashiro had 20 digs, two assists and an ace.

• Long Beach State sophomore defensive specialist Lauren Minkel (Iolani '08 of Honolulu) had a match-high 15 digs in a sweep of Cal Poly Friday. Minkel had a team-high 14 digs and two aces in a three-set loss to UC Santa Barbara Saturday.

• Pacific (Calif.) sophomore outside hitter Rebekah Torres (Kamehameha '08 of Wahiawä) had 16 kills and 14 digs, and senior defensive specialist Dancyne Kama (Kamehameha-Hawaii '06 of Hilo) tied for a match-high 21 digs in a five-set loss to UC Riverside Friday. In Saturday's four-set win over UC Irvine, Kama had 22 digs, Torres added 15 digs and nine kills, and freshman setter Pihana Kea (Punahou '09 of Honolulu) had 42 assists and 14 digs. Junior outside hitter Larissa Nordyke (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) had 10 digs and five kills for Irvine.

• UNLV junior libero Kela Lau Hee (Kamehameha-Maui '07 of Pukalani) tied for a match-high 18 digs and freshman defensive specialist Nile Teo (Kahuku '09 of Läie) added nine digs in a four-set loss at BYU Thursday.

• St. John's (N.Y.) freshman libero Ashley Asing (Moanalua '08 of Ewa Beach) had a match-high 18 digs in a four-set win over West Virginia Sunday.

• Boston College sophomore libero Brennan Clark (University High '08 of Mililani) had a team-high 13 digs in a three-set loss to Duke Friday.

• Hofstra freshman defensive specialist Kylee Maneja (Sacred Hearts '09 of Kapolei) had 16 digs and freshman libero Maile Scarpino (Iolani '09 of Kailua) added eight in a four-set win over Manhattan Thursday.

• Oregon State senior setter Camilla Ah-Hoy (Kahuku '06 of Lä'ie) had 59 assists and 17 digs in a four-set loss at Oregon Friday.

• Siena (N.Y.) senior setter Kaui Robello (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) had 48 assists and 10 digs, and freshman defensive specialist Lesli Akeo (Kamehameha '09 of Kapolei) added 17 digs in a four-set win over Fairfield (Conn.) Saturday. Sophomore outside hitter Haililani Pokipala (Sacred Hearts '08 of Honolulu) had 10 kills and 11 digs for Fairfield.

• Colgate junior outside hitter Logan Keala (Kamehameha '07 of Käneohe) had 14 digs and 11 kills in Wednesday's five-set win over Binghamton.

• George Mason (Va.) freshman libero Koala Matsuoka (Kamehameha '09 of Wahiawä) tied for a match-high 18 digs in a four-set win over Georgia State Saturday. She matched the effort in a sweep of UNC-Wilmington Friday.

• Nevada junior outside hitter Kylie Harrington (St. Francis '07 of Honolulu) had a team-high 11 kills with five digs and three aces in a sweep of San Jose State Thursday.

• San Jose State senior defensive specialist Kristal Tsukano (Kamehameha '06 of Honolulu) had 12 digs and freshman setter Caitlin Andrade (Kamehameha '09 of Kailua) added 29 assists and nine digs in a four-set loss at Fresno State Saturday.

• Adelphi (N.Y.) junior setter Heather Mau (Maryknoll '07 of Honolulu) had 34 assists, six kills, five digs, five blocks and an ace in a four-set win over Massachusetts-Lowell Friday.

• Bryant (R.I.) freshman outside hitter Macy Mitravich (Sacred Hearts '09 of Waimänalo) had 10 kills, 12 digs and two aces in a five-set loss to Saint Francis Saturday. Mitravich put away 12 kills with 10 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Robert Morris Sunday.

• Regis (Colo.) sophomore libero Cassidee Young (Kamehameha '08 of Pearl City) had a team-high 14 digs and three aces in a five-set loss to the Colorado School of Mines Friday.

• Central Washington junior libero Brandie Vea (Kalani '07 of Honolulu) had a team-high 24 digs in Saturday's four-set win over Northwest Nazarene.

• Puget Sound senior libero Leigh Sumida (Iolani '06 of Käneohe) had a team-high 20 digs and junior defensive specialist Kris Sumida (Iolani '07 of Käneohe) added 13 digs and three aces in a five-set win over Whitworth Friday. Sophomore middle blocker Kaipo Rocha (Seabury Hall '08 of Pukalani) had 11 kills and sophomore outside hitter Kaimi Rocha (Seabury Hall '08 of Pukalani) added 11 digs, seven kills and three aces for Whitworth.

• Linfield (Ore.) sophomore libero Samantha Lau (St. Francis '08 of Kailua) had a team-high 27 digs and two aces in Wednesday's five-set loss at Willamette. In Saturday's four-set loss at George Fox, Lau had a game-high 34 digs.

• Lewis & Clark (Ore.) freshman setter Leia Matsunaga (Kamehameha '09 of Käneohe) had 31 assists with eight digs and senior outside hitter Jessamy Holland (Punahou '06 of Honolulu) put away a match-high 10 kills with five digs and two aces in Saturday's sweep of Pacific (Ore.).

FOOTBALL

• Oregon junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli (Saint Louis '06) ran for a touchdown and passed for another to lead the Ducks to a 47-20 win over USC Saturday. Masoli scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and put the Ducks ahead for good with a 17-yard TD pass just before halftime. He finished with 13 rushes for 164 yards and 19-of-31 passing for 222 yards.

• Notre Dame freshman outside linebacker Manti Te'o (Punahou '09 of Läie) made three tackles and freshman wide receiver Robert Toma (Punahou '09 of Läie) caught one pass for eight yards in Saturday's 40-14 win over Washington State in San Antonio, Texas.

• Utah senior linebacker Kepa Gaison (Kamehameha '05 of Käneohe) had five tackles and junior defensive end Nai Fotu (Kahuku '07 of Läie) made one stop in the Utes' 22-10 win over Wyoming Saturday.

• Idaho junior linebacker JoJo Dickson (Baldwin '07 of Wailuku) had 11 tackles in a 35-34 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday. Sophomore linebacker Robert Siavii (Leilehua '08 of Wahiawä) added seven stops, including one for loss, and freshman linebacker Conrad Scheidt (Kamehameha '09 of Waianae) made one stop.

• Oregon State sophomore linebacker David Paaluhi (Waianae '07) had six tackles and junior safety Suaesi Tuimaunei (Kahuku '06 of Läie) added three tackles in a 26-10 win over UCLA Saturday.

• New Mexico State junior defensive end Kawika Shook (Kamehameha '06 of Kapolei) had three tackles and freshman linebacker B.J. Adolpho (Kahuku '08) added one stop in Saturday's 45-0 loss at Ohio State.

CROSS COUNTRY

• Pepperdine's Chelsea Wishard (Kaua'i '07 of Läwa'i) finished third for the second straight year at Saturday's West Coast Conference Championships. She finished the 6K course in 21:14. In the men's 8K, Jordan Lerma (Kamehameha-Hawai'i '09 of Kea'au) of St. Mary's (Calif.) finished 52nd in 28:15.

• At Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference Championships, Haley Abing (La Pietra '09 of Honolulu) of Kenyon (Ohio) finished 42nd in 25:55.6 in the women's 6K. Teammate Dai Shen (Roosevelt '09 of Honolulu) was 105th in 31:39.7 in the men's 8K.

• Bryce Jenkins (Leilehua '09 of Wahiawä) of Idaho State finished 45th at Saturday's Big Sky Conference Championships with a time of 28:14.5 in the men's 8K.

• Nevada's Nicole Painter (Mililani '09) placed 49th at Saturday's Western Athletic Conference Championships with a time of 21:25.7 in the women's 5K.

• At Saturday's Northwest Conference Championships, Amanda Tamanaha (St. Andrew's '09 of Honolulu) of Willamette (Ore.) finished 29th in the women's 6K in 23:49.70. In the men's 8K, Casey Nishimura (Mid-Pacific '07 of Hawai'i Kai) of Pacific (Ore.) finished 75th in 30:19.56.

• Christina Wong (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) of Amherst (Mass.) placed 31st at Saturday's New England Small College Athletic Conference Championships, finishing the women's 6K race in 23:14.

MEN'S SOCCER

• Gonzaga senior forward Tye Perdido (Seabury Hall '06 of Kula) scored his sixth goal of the season in the 89th minute of Sunday's 5-0 win over Saint Mary's (Calif.). Perdido also assisted on the Bulldogs' second goal, in the 72nd minute.

• Swarthmore (Pa.) junior forward Morgan Langley (Iolani '07 of Honolulu) scored in the 20th minute of Saturday's 4-2 win over Haverford off an assist from senior midfielder Dylan Langley (Iolani '06 of Honolulu).

WOMEN'S SOCCER

• Pacific (Ore.) junior forward Ashley Kanda (Castle '07 of Käneohe) scored in the 39th, 62nd and 87th minutes of a 3-3 tie with Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) Sunday. It was Kanda's second, third and fourth goals of the season and the 12th hat trick in Boxers' history.

GOLF

• Oregon junior Sean Maekawa (Honokaa '07 of Paauilo) is tied for 22nd at the Pacific Invitational in Stockton, Calif. Maekawa shot 70 Sunday and 71 yesterday to enter today's final round at 1-under par.

• UCLA sophomore Stephanie Kono (Punahou '08 of Honolulu) is tied for second at 6-under par entering today's final round of the Turtle Bay Intercollegiate, hosted by the University of Hawaii. Kono, who shot 71 Sunday and 67 yesterday, is one stroke behind UC Davis' Demi Rujas. Tulsa freshman Kristina Merkle (Moanalua '09 of Honolulu) is tied for 15th (72-74), Santa Clara junior Miki Ueoka (Kauai '07 of Líhue) is tied for 28th (73-77) and UC Davis junior Katie Sisler (Punahou '07 of Honolulu) is tied for 45th (76-77). Sophomore Tamara Surtees (Hawaii Prep '08 of Waikoloa) and senior Jamie Nonaka (Punahou '06 of Hal[0xeb]iwa) — both of Santa Clara — are tied for 52nd (75-79) and 92nd (84-81), respectively.

• Boise State senior Iris Ocariza (Moanalua '06 of Honolulu) tied for 76th at The Challenge at Onion Creek in Austin, Texas. She finished 15-over par after rounds of 74, 75 and 76 at the par-70 course.

SWIMMING & DIVING

• Northern Arizona junior Meredith Egloria (Kapolei '06) helped her team win the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:35.18 in a meet against New Mexico State and Northern Colorado Saturday. Egloria also took second (54.06) in the 100 freestyle and fifth (1:00.67) in the 100 backstroke.

• Fairfield (Conn.) sophomore Michelle Yoshida (Punahou '08 of Käneohe) won three events in a meet against Providence Saturday. Yoshida won the 200-yard freestyle in 2:12.95, the 200 backstroke in 2:29.55 and the 50 freestyle in 27.86.

• Lindenwood (Mo.) sophomore Sarah Billiamosa (Pearl City '08) won the 200-yard individual medley (2:14.83) and 100 backstroke (1:03.74) in a meet against Saint Louis University of Saturday.

Advertiser Staff Writer Stanley Lee contributed to this report.