Honolulu’s Spencer McLachlin and Ryan Wilcox are heading to Peru for the U21 Pan American Cup volleyball tournament, McLachlin as the head coach of the U.S. men’s junior national team and Wilcox as an outside hitter.
McLachlin, who played for 2010 national champions, currently is the assistant coach at UCLA. Wilcox, one of 12 players chosen, was the Big West freshman of the year in his first season at UC Santa Barbara. Both prepped at Punahou.
The tournament opens Sunday in Lima and runs through May 10. In the U.S. pool are Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and a first-place finish will qualify the Americans for the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship July 18-27 in Bahrain.
Melounova earns third Player of the Year
University of Hawaii junior Petra Melounova was named the Big West women’s tennis player of the year for the third straight season as conference honors were announced on Wednesday.
Melounova is the third player to win the award three times. Melounova was also named to the All-Big West first team for the third consecutive season in both singles and doubles. The junior went 13-2 in singles, and teamed with Nikola Dolakova to go 8-4 in doubles.
Hawaii’s Maayan Sela was also honored, earning All-Big West second-team honors.
Ilagan named BWC Freshman of the Year
Andre Ilagan of the Hawaii men’s tennis team became the first Rainbow Warrior to earn Big West Freshman of the Year honors, as conference honors were announced on Wednesday.
Ilagan was also named to the All-Big West first team after compiling a 12-7 singles record, the most wins since Dennis Lajola won 12 back in 2010.
Ilagan and doubles partner Lucas Labrunie also earned second-team honors in doubles, where they were joined by teammates Blaz Seric and Simao Telo Alves. Labrunie also earned second-team honors in singles.
Kerber commits to Hawaii Open
Former world No. 1 Angelique Kerber, currently ranked No. 4 on the WTA Tour, has committed to play in the Hawaii Open in December.
The German has won three Grand Slam titles and 12 overall titles in her career. World No. 7 Kei Nishikori has also committed to return to the Hawaii Open after winning the men’s title last year.
The Hawaii Open will be held Dec. 27-29.
Biola cools off UH Hilo
The University of Hawaii Hilo baseball team squandered a 3-0 lead after three innings, falling 7-3 to Biola in La Mirada, Calif. on Wednesday.
The Vulcans (25-17) had won 15 of their last 16 games.
Jaryn Kanbara led the Vulcans at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, with a solo home run in the second inning. Joey Magro led the Eagles (27-18), going 2-for-2 with a run and four RBIs, three coming on a home run in the third.
