By Jason Kaneshiro

The Warriors finished their offseason conditioning program today leading into spring break on the Manoa campus.
But the week off may not be much of a vacation for some who plan to continue to work out on their own leading up to the start of spring practice on March 30.
“We understand how it is, there is no spring break for us,” defensive tackle Rocky Savaiigaea said this week. “It’s just straight ahead to spring ball, that’s what we train for.”
“They guys are working hard, but that’s what I expect of them,” head coach Greg McMackin said. “Mel DeLaura and Tommy (Heffernan) have done a great job of getting our guys in condition and now we have to maintain that.”
>> McMackin is hosting a group of coaches from Japan today and a larger group is expected to attend UH’s coaches clinic next month.
>> Several former Warriors are also busy training for UH’s pro day set for April 2 in Carson, Calif. Solomon Elimimian is training in San Diego. Adam Leonard was working out at a facility in Tampa, Fla., earlier and is now training in the Bay Area in preparation for a shot to perform for the scouts.

By Cindy Luis

UH football coach Greg McMackin in house. As Ann Miller said to me, can’t imagine Tom Osborne coming to watch the Huskers. Starting for Nebraska: Anderson (s), Banwarth (l), Wilberger (Mb), Delano (H), McNeal (Mb), Mueller (H), Wether (OH)For the Wahine Kaufman (H), Hewitt (MB), Danielson (OH), Brandt (OH), Ka’aihue (L), Mafua (S), Cubi-Otineru (OH but playing only back row …. supposedly) Ferrell on the bench, left leg in cast. said it will be on for another month.   

By Cindy Luis

Congrats to incoming freshman middle Kristiana Tuaniga for making the Fab 50 list.  Co-captains of the team are Bailey Webster (Texas) and Darcy Dorton (Penn State)Looked at the list of underclassmen (juniors) to watch. No one from Hawaii on there.  

By Jason Kaneshiro

Down to their last swing, Tunda Katz — captained by Tuika Tufaga — came through in the clutch to win this morning’s home run derby to close the Warriors’ Super Games competition.With the plate set in shallow center field at Murakami Stadium, each player had two swings to hit a tennis ball over the fence (did I call it big blue yesterday? My brain must have been stuck in 1988). Five teams had one homer each when Tufaga’s crew came to bat. They were shut out until Mana Silva went deep on his second swing to force an overtime. The plate was moved 25 feet closer to the wall and after Rocky Savaiigaea’s team went down quietly, Steele Jantz — hitting righty after swinging from the left side in his first at-bat — delivered the winning homer for the Katz.Savaiigaea was expecting to get some grief from his roommate after the derby, but Tufaga said he’d be gracious in victory.As far as spring practice goes, Savaiigaea said he expects to be ready when the Warriors open practice on March 30 after having his season cut short by a triceps injury last fall.

By Jason Kaneshiro

The Warriors will try to channel their inner Kolten Wong in the final event of this year’s Super Games competition Wednesday morning.They won’t exactly be swinging from home plate (they’ll move up considerably closer to big blue), but tomorrow morning’s home run derby at Murakami Stadium figures to decide a close race for the overall title and, more so, bragging rights. Points in the Super Games, instituted last spring, were awarded on the weekly competitions (which have included water polo, basketball, dodgeball and tug-o-war), conditioning testing and academic performance. Along with building camaraderie, the games foster a sense of accountability among the players. After the games are done, it’ll be spring break next week and the Warriors jump into spring practice when classes resume on March 30.

By Cindy Luis

UCSD wins Set 1 30-21. Very tight match until 16=16. Not looking good for Warriors.  Another tight one, tied 14 times, last at 26. Tritons finish it out 4-1 to win 30-27.   UH goes out early 9-3 then played fairly steady the rest of the way. Warriors win Set 3 30-24. Nothing spectacular hitting-wise. Carney with 10, Clar 7, Grgas 5. Walker got pulled in Set 2 after going 3-3-13.   Dyer has come on. Has 15 kills as UH wins Set 4 30-28. Carney now with 15, Clar 10.  

By Cindy Luis

Tritons win 34-32, 30-23, 25-30, 30-19. 33 kills for UCSD’s Fritsch, 16 for Spangler and 13 for Ehrman.Walker with 17 kills for the Warriors.First time UCSD has defeated UH in 40 meetings (according to UH) … or 37 times, according to UCSD. I’ll have to look at the media guide  

By Cindy Luis

Was told that antenna ball Jack (from Jack-in-the-Box) will be wearing a UH football helmet. Scheduled to be available in July. 

By Cindy Luis

http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveStats

By Cindy Luis

I had mentioned the possibility last November when Benson was in Honolulu for the tournament. But he told the S-B’s Billy Hull today that the move to the Orleans was pending approval by the WAC board of directors. And that the number of teams would be cut from 9 to 6, one of several cost-cutting measures. Appears basketball could be headed there as well after next year’s return to Reno.