U.S. men advance to World League title match

The U.S. men’s national volleyball team, with two players from Hawaii in the starting lineup, defeated Iran 25-18, 25-22, 25-16 on Saturday in the FIVB World League semifinal in Florence, Italy.

Setter Micah Christenson (Kamehameha, USC) finished with 22 assists and libero Erik Shoji (Punahou, Stanford) had nine digs and six assists. Reserve setter Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani, Stanford) did not play.

The U.S. meets top-ranked Brazil for the gold medal Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Hawaii time at the Nelson Mandela Forum. The Americans won gold in 2008 and silver in 2012 in their previous two appearances in the championship match.

Brazil, which swept Italy 25-11, 25-23, 25-20 in Saturday’s other semifinal, has nine gold, four silver and four bronze in previous World League championships matches.

BYU graduate Taylor Sander led the U.S. with 16 kills and an ace.

Ma’a helps U.S. to NORCECA gold medal

Incoming Punahou senior Micah Ma’a put down five kills and added three aces to help the U.S. Boys’ Youth National Volleyball Team defeat Cuba for the NORCECA U19 Boys’ Continental Championship 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.

Ma’a, playing at opposite, also was in on two blocks in the match at the Cox Business Center.

Former Olympian to host softball clinic

Three-time Olympic medalist Crystl Bustos will be the featured instructor at a military youth softball clinic on July 29 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Bustos, a power hitter on the gold-medal-winning United States softball teams in 2000 and 2004 and the silver medal team in 2008, will be joined by Ruby Rojas, a 13-year veteran of the Venezuelan national team to lead the clinic.

The clinic presented by Operation: Military Kids in conjunction with Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Youth Sports, Army School Liaison Office and Ruthless Sports Training is free and open to girls ages 8-18 from military families from all service branches. More information is available at www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/4h/OMK/education.htm