Hawaii’s Clay Stanley ended the first two sets with an ace to lead the U.S. men’s national volleyball team to a 32-30,  26-24, 25-22 sweep of Korea in Friday’s FIVB World League match in Dallas.

It was the seventh consecutive World League victory for the Americans (8-2), who take on France Saturday and Italy Sunday.

Stanley, the MVP of the 2008 Olympic men’s volleyball tournament, added 14 kills and 3 blocks for a match-high 19 points.

The women also won today, staying undefeated in Grand Prix play with a 25-18, 25-23, 21-25, 25-20 over Turkey in Friday’s opening match of the  final round in Ningbo, China.
Former University of Hawaii middle blocker Heather Bown had one block in playing only in Set 4. Kalani High product Tamari Miyashiro was used as a serving specialist in the first three sets and at libero in Set 4.
Both Bown and Miyashiro are still competing for a roster spot at next month’s Olympics. Punahou School graduate and setter Lindsey Berg has secured her spot and is not with the team this week.
The top-ranked Americans face Cuba Saturday and conclude the tournament Sunday against China.

For those of you who don’t get the paper, Tsai had a story today (June 29)

Not really surprised. That coaching staff combined has about a dozen young kids. Can see maybe Sean Carney getting the job. he’s been a volunteer assistant.

Vernon Podlewski has resigned as assistant coach of the University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team to accept a position with a solar-panel company.

“It was a financial decision,” said Podlewski, who is married and has two young children. “I’m looking forward to my next career. I’m leaving a coaching career that I’m so passionate about. I’m really, really going to miss it. It was a hard decision. I’ll be supporting (the Warriors) from the sidelines.”

UH head coach Charlie Wade said Eco Solar made several offers to Podlewski.

“They kept coming back to him over the past several months,” Wade said.

Wade and associate head coach Jeff Hall will be in Dallas attending a Junior Olympic tournament the next 11 days. Podlewski will be coaching the Outrigger team in that tournament.

Wade said he expects to fill the vacancy before the start of UH’s fall semester on Aug. 20.

ON UH’s website   http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/news/2012/6/22/WVB_0622120130.aspx?path=wvball

Training started yesterday. here’s first entry

I arrived in Columbus, Ohio at 8:30 this morning, where I was greeted by some of the USA coaches. We continued our journey on to Ohio Dominican University. The University is providing us with dorm rooms, meals, as well as a gymnasium for the next eight days.

Once all the girls were situated in the dorm room ‘suites’, we headed over to the dining hall for dinner. Shortly after, we made our way over the gymnasium and were introduced to the elite coaching staff; then we began our first official A2 Olympic Training Team practice. We practiced for two hours, mostly drills, until we competed for the last forty minutes.

Although today was a fairly short practice, I can already tell that this experience is going to be one of a lifetime. I am honored to have the opportunity to be playing with such an esteemed program and to be able to meet and compete with the top collegiate athletes all over the country. I’ve already met so many interesting girls and have learned a lot just in those short two hours on the court. These next eight days are going to be an awesome cap to my summer right before I head back to Hawaii!

S-A is not the Star-Advertiser but Student-Athlete

In regards to Student-Athletes and contacting them before they have signed an NLI or transfer agreement. I don’t see that following them on Twitter is a violation but emailing them may be. Just be careful if you are doing so, such as some who have said they have in the case of some of the transfers.

If you are at all connected to the UH athletic program  you are considered as the NCAA says ‘representatives of athletic interests.’  Examples

• Participate in or have been members of Koa Anuenue or any other booster group that supports athletics;
• Have made financial contributions to the University of Hawaii Athletics Department;
• Have assisted in the recruitment of student-athletes;
• Provide or have helped arrange benefits for enrolled student-athletes or their families;
• Participated as a student-athlete of the University of Hawaii; or
• Have been involved in promoting University of Hawaii Athletics in any other way.)

If you are one of the above and are found to have had improper contact, you could be forced to disassociate with the institution, in this case UH.

Thanks to Stanley Ching, booster club prez, for the reminder.

From the SLO paper today. other posts said he was at his sister-in-law’s house helping with her kids.

One of Cal Poly’s most successful, and controversial, volleyball coaches has died, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office confirmed June 26.

Jon Phillip Stevenson, of Pismo Beach, was found in a residence in Van Nuys on June 24. He was 54.

The cause of death is not yet known, according to assistant chief investigator at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, and a cause likely won’t be released until the office receives results from a toxicology test, which could take up to six weeks.

Stevenson came to Cal Poly in February 2005 and, during his six-season stint as head coach, led the team to a 115-61 overall record and a third-place finish at the Big West Conference.

He was removed as coach in September 2011 and later resigned after New Times reported a number of his student athletes had accused Stevenson of harassment and inappropriate behavior. The investigation revealed that Cal Poly officials had been aware of the accusations for months.

Prior to his arrival at Cal Poly, he coached at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., and was named NCAA Division “Coach of the Year” by VBall Magazine in 2004.

He was regarded as a big name in the professional beach volleyball circuit, and, as of June 26, a long list of condolences had been posted on the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Facebook page.

Stevenson was later replaced by current coach Sam Crosson.