Athletes HI editor new cross country coach

If Christian Friis coaches as well as he runs, HPU can look forward to cross country success in the near future. Friis, who took the helm as HPU cross country coach in August, ran for three years for HPU’s cross country team and was the first HPU runner to qualify for the NCAA championship race.

HPU's fastest person slowed down

William Ngetich is indisputably Hawaii Pacific University’s fastest person. Or at least he was. Injuries will test his patience this semester.

Former athlete, editor new SID

HPU’s new Sports Information Director Yonie Espiritu has seen the action from both sides of the playing field. As an HPU women’s soccer player, Espiritu spent her time attacking opposition defenses with runs on goal or defending HPU’s goal when called into duty. As a journalist, she spent time in the press box and did her post- game interviews and articles for print, and later did the voice over script and footage editing for television sports broadcasts.

HPU soccer team rebuilds itself

Another season is about to start for the HPU White and Green soccer teams. Last season was a success for both of them. The White team had a perfect regular season with 14 straight wins. The Green team finished 10-2-2 and qualified for the play-offs, but since the majority of the players went back home for the summer, both teams had to withdraw from the spring playoffs. This fall, veterans from last semester’s two teams organized the HPU White team, coached by Jose “Pepe” Ballina. All the newcomers formed the HPU Green team, whose coach Scott Liedtke is optimistic about the fall season. “It’s looking better than expected,” Liedtke said. “This is definitely one of the best incoming groups overall.”

Lady Sea Warriors lead conference

HPU continued its Pac-West winning streak Sept. 24, slamming the Chaminade University Silver Swords in four sets, 30-18, 23-30, 30-25, 30-25, for the Swords first regular-season loss. The HPU volleyball team, in its quest for this year’s Pac-West and NCAA II titles, has swept away all the competition except No. 1 ranked, Nebraska-Kearney where HPU fell short 2-3 in a hard fought five matches. The Lady Sea Warriors, currently ranked No. 8 in the 2004 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll and No.1 in the conference with a record of 9-1 on the season (3-0 in the conference).

Scoreboard

Since last issue . . .