Kelci Sumida scored the game-winning goal on a header in the 26th minute and the Hawaii soccer team recorded its third straight shutout in a 1-0 win at North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D., on Friday night.
“Our defense hung tough,” UH coach Michele Nagamine said in a postgame phone interview. “The forwards set the pace and the midfield kind of held us all together. So it was a tremendous team effort. And (goalkeeper) Lex Mata again was huge.”
It was Mata’s 11th career shutout, moving her into sole possession of third in UH records.
Sumida, a 5-foot-5 true freshman out of Moanalua, scored on a ball sent into the box by defender Cristina Drossos.
“She’s got good timing. This is now the second goal she’s scored with her head,” Nagamine said. “I would say she makes the most of her opportunities. She’s got a great attitude; she’s going to go in there and play bigger than she is.”
NDSU of the Summit League took its first loss of the season (3-1-1). UH (2-2-1) continues its three-game road trip to North Dakota (3-1-1) in Grand Forks at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
University of Hawaii beach volleyball freshman honored by AVCA
Hawaii freshman Ilihia Huddleston was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association high school beach All-America eight-member first team on Friday, the 10th for the Rainbow Wahine program.
Huddleston, from Oceanside, Calif., is the younger sister of Hi’ilawe Huddleston, who finished her four-year career with the SandBows last season. Ilihia is the third first-team honoree in the past four years for Hawaii, joining Kylin Loker (2018) and Martin (2016).
Huddleston, a member of 692 West Beach Volleyball Club, won a number of tournaments last season and went undefeated at the AVPFirst. She earned third in the AAU National Championships and fourth in the USAV Jr. National Championships.
The SandBows (28-11) finished fourth at last May’s NCAA championship tournament.
HPU, Chaminade, Hilo win season openers in volleyball
The Hawaii Hilo and Chaminade women’s volleyball teams each won their first two matches of the season Friday at the Hawaii Invitational held at McCabe Gym and St. Francis School.
Bria Beale had 18 kills, Amber Tai added 14 and Kendall Kott recorded 45 assists as the Vulcans beat Chico State 25-13, 25-15, 21-25, 20-25, 15-12 at St. Francis. In Hilo’s second match of the day, Beale had 11 kills and Kott had 28 assists in the Vulcans’ 25-20, 25-21, 25-14 win over Minot State at St. Francis.
Chaminade’s Lataisia Saulala and Rachel Reedy each had nine kills and Natashya Enos posted 17 assists in a 25-22, 20-25, 25-10, 25-22 victory over Sonoma State. Alana Handy had 14 kills and Emma Tecklenburg added 11 as the Silverswords beat West Virginia State 25-22, 25-17, 25-21. Both matches were at McCabe Gym.
In Hawaii Pacific’s first match of the day, the Sharks defeated West Virginia State 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 at St. Francis gym. The Sharks beat Chico State 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-23, 15-12 in their late match.
U.S. advances to NORCECA championship
The U.S. men’s volleyball team, with three players with Hawaii ties on the roster, advanced to today’s title match of the NORCECA Continental Championship with a sweep of Mexico in Winnipeg, Canada.
Setter and team captain Micah Ma’a (Punahou) had two kills, a block and an ace in the 25-18, 25-16, 25-23 win. Former Hawaii All-America setter Joe Worsley played the final two sets, starting Set 3, and had an ace; Warriors junior Gage Worsley was the libero in Set 3.
The U.S. plays Cuba for the championship. The Americans swept Cuba in a pool-play match on Wednesday.
