Kikaha leads country in sacks

Washington linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha had another monster game over the weekend and now leads the country in both sacks and tackles for losses.

The 2010 Kahuku alumnus, who had suffered through two torn ACLs early in his college career, has recorded at least one sack in all six games this season.

He had a season-high three in a 31-7 win over California on Saturday to go along with nine total tackles, with four and a half for loss, and a forced fumble.

For the season, Kikaha has 10 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, which both lead the FBS.

The 6-foot-3 246-pounder, who moved from defensive end to outside linebacker this year, now has 27 sacks in his career, which is three short of the UW all-time record held by Hawaii Prep alum Daniel Te’o-Nesheim.

This week, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. named Kikaha his midseason defensive player of the year, calling him a late first-day or early second-day NFL Draft pick.

The Huskies (5-1, 1-1 Pac-12) head to Oregon to play the Ducks (5-1, 1-1) on Saturday, pitting Kikaha against Oregon QB and Saint Louis alum Marcus Mariota.

Tobita advances to quarterfinals

Oregon freshman Alyssa Tobita advanced to the quarterfinals of the USATA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships in Stanford, Calif., before suffering her first doubles loss of the season on Sunday.

Tobita, who graduated from Mililani this past spring, had won her first seven doubles matches with fellow freshman Nia Rose.

Tobita had won the consolation final at No. 1 singles in the Washington State Invitational prior to regionals that began on Thursday.

The duo won three matches in California, and advanced through the round of 16 after winning in a tiebreaker before losing 8-4 to a team from Stanford.

Tobita also entered singles competition and won her opening match before she was eliminated in the round of 64.

Kitagiri honored by the UAA

Washington (Mo.) University sophomore Kalehua Kitagiri was honored Tuesday as the University Athletic Association defensive athlete of the week in women’s volleyball.

Kitagiri, a 2013 Kamehameha graduate, won the award for the second time this season after averaging 5.50 digs per set to help the eighth-ranked Bears finish 3-1 at the Elmhurst Invite III.

Kitagiri, a sophomore, was named to the all-tournament team and finished with 77 digs total over three days to eclipse 1,000 for her career.

Fujimoto does it again for Grinnell College

Grinnell College senior Lindsay Fujimoto was awarded her second Midwest Conference women’s volleyball defensive performer of the week honor.

The 2011 St. Andrew’s alumna averaged a whopping 7.29 digs per set over the weekend, including a match-high 36-dig effort in a win over Lawrence University to help the Pioneers earn their first conference win.

Fujimoto increased her total in digs to 1,150 to push her into fifth on the school’s career list.