Hawaii Beat

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, August 18, 1997

Li, Williams repeat
as doubles champs

Seven days did not change anything when it came to determining the best men's doubles team in beach volleyball.

Stevie Li and Alika Williams defeated Yuval Katz and Adam Lockwood, 15-9, for the $6,000 Emporio Armani Hawaii Beach Volleyball State Championships yesterday at Queen's Surf Beach.

A week ago at the Riggers Classic, the same teams met on the same beach in the final with the same result: a win for Li and Williams.

It was also a repeat for third place, with Katz and Lockwood downing Pono Ma'a and Keoki Shupe, 11-8.

In the women's bracket, Peka Malae and Tanya Fuamatu held off Lia Young and Jan Resuello, 11-8. Young and Resuello had forced the double final after beating the previously undefeated champions, 15-11.

Lisa Bragado and Laurie Kemp were third.

Equal prize money went to the top three teams: $1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and $500 for third.

SOTELO, HEISLER WIN: Richard Sotelo won the men's title and Shannon Heisler the women's in the finals of the Hawaii State Open tennis tournament yesterday at the Diamond Head Tennis Center.

Sotelo, who was seeded third, beat fourth-seeded Joe Cucchiella, 6-3, 6-1.

The women's matchup featured the two top seeds with No. 2 Heisler prevailing over Connie Zepeda, 7-6, 6-3.

Johnny Kop and Tony Look took the men's doubles title over Mark Kobayashi and Robert Lau, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6.

Geri Maeshiro and Noelle Lee beat sisters Jennifer and Christie Oshita, 6-3, 6-4, for the women's doubles title.

BALLARD TRIUMPHS: At Lacanau, France, Hawaii's Rochelle Ballard won her second Kahlua ASP Women's World Championship Tour event yesterday when she defeated Australia's Pam Burridge in the Kana Beach Lacanau Women's Pro surf meet.

Ballard finished with a 27.05 points to 25.10 for Burridge.

In the companion men's event, Hawaii's Kalani Robb finished in a tie for third with Brazil's Neco Padaratz.

MILILANI IN TITLE GAME: At Buena Park, Calif., Mililani won two games yesterday to advance to tomorrow's championship game in the Bobby Sox National Prep (15-18 years) softball tournament.

Mililani defeated Lemon Grove, Calif., 2-0, on Chenelle Chikazawa's three-hitter, then beat Mira Mesa, Calif., 4-2, as Moku Naeole and Chikazawa combined on a five-hitter.

AIEA LEGION LOSES: At Yountville, Calif., Aiea left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and lost to Fairfield (Calif.) yesterday in the American Legion Western Regional.

It was the first loss for the Hawaii, which will play Utah today in an elimination game. Should Aiea win, it would advance to tomorrow's championship game.

Fairfield jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first on three singles and a walk. Aiea rallied with a two-run single by Derek Honma in the second and a run-scoring single by Kyle Izumigawa in the ninth.

WAHINE VOLLEYBALL TICKETS: Individual match tickets for the University of Hawaii women's volleyball season went on sale today at the Special Events Arena box office.

Prices range from $6 to $9. UH students need a valid ID. The box office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

OCEANMAN SERIES HERE: The World Oceanman Series will sponsor the Oceanman Hawaii Race Thursday at Waikiki Beach.

The women's race starts at 10:45 a.m. with the men's race beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The women will swim 800 meters, paddleboard for 1,000 meters and run a combined total of 1,240 meters between each leg.

The men will swim 1,000 meters, paddleboard for 1,700 meters and kayak for 2,600 meters with each leg separated by beach sprints for a total of 2,800 meters.

IOLANI VOLLEYBALL: The Iolani Invitational, the state's largest high school girls' volleyball tournament, will be held Thursday through Saturday at the Iolani School gyms.

Nineteen schools will compete in the double-elimination event. The final is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $2.50 for adults, $1 for students. Children under 6 will be admitted free.

For more information, contact Ann Kang at 943-2208.