Wahine at No. 4 in volleyball poll

The Hawaii women’s volleyball team moved up a spot and received first-place votes for the first time since 2004 in yesterday’s AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25.

UH (14-1) was back at No. 4, the same rank it held Aug. 30. Hawaii also received two first-place votes.

Florida (14-1) received 25 first-place votes, replacing Stanford (14-1) at No. 1. The Cardinal (14-1), losing for the first time last week at UCLA, had 22 votes and dropped to second.

Nebraska (16-1) remained at No. 3 and USC (14-2) — the only team to beat Hawaii — moved to fifth. California (15-1) was sixth, followed by Washington (15-1), which received one vote.

Hawaii returns to Western Athletic Conference play Friday at home against San Jose State.

WAC soccer honor to UH’s Taaca

Hawaii sophomore goalkeeper Kanani Taaca was named the Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the week yesterday for her play on the road against San Jose State and Fresno State.

Taaca played all 110 minutes in a 1-1 tie against the Spartans on Friday, posting seven saves. The Kamehameha graduate followed that up with her third shutout of the season in UH’s 1-0 win over the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Thanks to the tie and the win — UH’s first this season in the WAC — the Rainbow Wahine (3-10-2, 1-2-1 WAC) are back in contention for a league tournament berth.

It was the first career WAC weekly honor for Taaca, and first for a UH player this season.

UH plays at Cal State Bakersfield in a nonconference match today at 4 p.m., then plays its annual Alumnae Game on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium.

UH in a tie for 12th in New Mexico

Hawaii is in a three-way tie for 12th place out of 15 teams at the Price’s Give ‘Em Five Invitational women’s golf tournament in Las Cruces, N.M.

The Rainbow Wahine are at 23-over 311 after yesterday’s first round, 26 shots behind Baylor (285), the tournament leader.

Hawaii freshman Medeleine Ystrom, is tied for 41st after a 5-over 77. She is 12 shots behind individual leader, Jaclyn Jansen (65) of Baylor.

Payne in, 3 from isles out

Hawaii’s Fred Patacchia, Andy Irons and Roy Powers were eliminated from the Rip Curl Pro Portugal surf contest yesterday at the Supertubos surf break.

All three lost their second-round heats.

Dusty Payne is the only Hawaii surfer still left in the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour contest. He’ll surf against Adrian Buchan in the third round today, surf permitting.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BOYS

Chester Sua
Kaimuki football
The two-way starter returned a kickoff 88 yards for a score, then added 105 yards from scrimmage and three more touchdowns in a 27-21 win over Waipahu. His interception in the end zone on the game’s final play sealed the win for the OIA White-leading Bulldogs. Sua has committed to play football at Washington State.

GIRLS

Maile Kuma
McKinley volleyball
She racked up 16 kills and four aces in an OIA playoff win over Campbell.

HONOR ROLL

Football

» Solomon Dixon, McKinley: rushed for 267 yards (14 per carry) and three touchdowns, including runs of 85 and 80 yards, in a loss to Waialua

» Ikaika Gante, Anuenue: rushed for 242 yards (12.7 per carry) and three touchdowns, including a 95-yard TD, against Kalani

» Jaymason Lee, Castle: passed for 407 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Kahuku

» More on the web: See full list of other standout performances on hawaiiprepworld.com

THIS WEEK’S OAHU

FOOTBALL GAMES

Friday

OIA Red playoffs
» Moanalua at Radford, 7:30 p.m.
» Farrington at Roosevelt, 5 p.m. JV game with varsity to follow
OIA White
regular season
» Anuenue at Waipahu, 5 p.m. JV game with varsity to follow
ILH regular season
At Aloha Stadium
» Pac-Five vs. ‘Iolani,
5 p.m.
» Saint Louis vs. Punahou, 7:45 p.m.

Saturday

OIA regular season
» Pearl City vs. Kaimuki at Roosevelt, 2 p.m. JV with varsity to follow
» Nanakuli vs. Kalani at Kaiser, 4 p.m. JV with varsity to follow.
» McKinley vs. Kalaheo at Kailua, 4 p.m. JV with varsity to follow