Called to congratulate Chris on Parker’s great PGA win yesterday. Chris said he plans to be back on the KFVE Wahine volleyball broadcasts beginning with the opener against Penn State. He said he won’t be doing the tournament doubleheaders but just Wahine nightcaps. For those who missed it, Chris suffered a stroke while on the mainland to watch son Spencer play volleyball for Stanford early this year.  His recovery is coming along nicely.It was great to see him and Beth share Parker’s win.  

Sorry, thought it had been posted earlier. It is an interesting hire but Ryan does work well with the players. Ryan Tsuji, part of the Hawaii women’s volleyball program the past seven seasons, has been promoted to assistant coach for the upcoming season.Tsuji is replacing associate coach Kari Ambrozich, who is on maternity leave. Ambrozich and husband Eric, a former UH basketball player, welcomed son Trey July 11.“I am very honored and blessed to have this opportunity,” Tsuji told the Star-Bulletin today. “I’m excited to be in a new role and honored that Dave (Rainbow Wahine coach Shoji) would respect me enough to give me this opportunity.”Tsuji (Waiakea ’02) has been the team manager for the past five seasons. Ambrozich will return to help with administrative duties in October and as an active coach next January.“By hiring Ryan, we will go through an easy transition,” Shoji said. “This will be a great opportunity for him.”Hawaii opens camp Aug. 9. The Wahine open the season with defending NCAA champion Penn State Aug. 29.

Led by former Hawaii player Clay Stanley’s 11 kills, the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team assured itself its best FIVB World League finish ever when it swept host and world No. 1 Brazil 25-23, 25-22, 27-25 today in front of 11,615 fans on at Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro.Team USA will face a rematch with Serbia in tomorrow’s gold-medal contest. Serbia defeated Russia 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 in today’s other semifinal. Serbia swept the U.S. on Wednesday in their pool play opener.The U.S., ranked third in the world, ended Brazil’s string of five consecutive World League titlesand advanced to the gold medal match for the first time since the competition began in 1990. Brazil is the defending Olympic, World Cup and World Championship gold medalist.Stanley (Kaiser ‘96) added two blocks and three aces.

Former UH training Melody Toth  has finished her book “Let’s Go ‘Bows” and it’s off to be printed. Received a few advanced chapters and I think anyone with an interested in Wahine volleyball and UH sports in general will enjoy the “insider” look. It brought back some memories for me. Don’t know if she mentioned how she rescued me and my suitcase (it was at either the ‘87 or ‘88 final four) but the zipper broke in the lobby as I was heading for the airport. She pulled out her athletic tape and wrapped it. Glad I didn’t have to open it until I landed. I would have been in trouble. Book should be in out in September. Melody will be her then. Congrats to her. 

Season tickets for Hawaii women’s volleyball go on sale Monday.The Rainbow Wahine open with defending national champion Penn State on Aug. 29. Ticket packages range from $40 (UH students) to $165 (lower bowl). http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/pr.html?prid=15193&p=12 

Three former Hawaii All-American volleyball players and a Punahou graduate today were among the 12 nominated by USA Volleyball to compete in next month’s Olympics, pending official confirmation by the United States Olympic Committee.Ex-Rainbow Wahine selected were: setter Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, middle Heather Bown and outside hitter Kim Willoughby. Also selected was former Punahou setter Lindsey Berg. Named to her third Olympic team was Stanford great Logan Tom, who is part=Hawaiian and the daughter of the late Mel Tom, a former NFL player.This will be the third Olympics for Ah Mow-Santos and Bown, the second for Berg. It is the first Olympics for Willoughby, who only recently joiined the national team.  http://www.usavolleyball.org/national/08WNTOlympicNominationRoster.asp

Stanley was nominated today as one of 12 players on the U.S. Olympic men’s volleyball team, pending approval of the USOC. Just spoke with him this morning and “Bird” is doing well. Said he wishes the team could play in Hawaii some time.He won’t be going with the team to Bulgaria for this round, staying in California to rest up for the final round in Rio next week. Also said hello to all the boosters, especially Bob and Linda. He appreciates all the support from Hawaii.  

Aloha all, We have begun work on the 2008 Wahine volleyball magazine. In the past, when we’ve had a “Letters” section, I’ve made them up or asked certain people to write a few (Thank you Ben and Jay). This year, I’d like to open the opportunity up for any blog readers to be part of the issue. If you would send an email to me at CLuis@starbulletin.com with your submissions by July 25, I’d appreciate it.  Just need 2-3 sentences AND with your real name, hometown and phone number (company policy) but I will use only the name & town you use online in the magazine. Remember to Email me personally, not post on the blog.Suggested topics: This year’s schedule, No. 16 ranking of recruiting class, memories of former Wahine, random sightings of players, etc. Whatever you want, within good taste.Also, if you have a Burning Question or a Poll question, please submit those. Can’t promise to use all of them but I’ll try my best that they show up somewhere in the magazine. Thanks again. You are the best!    

 This year’s recruiting class for the University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team was rated 16th nationally by PrepVolleyball.com today.The Rainbow Wahine are adding incoming freshmen Kanani Herring (Kamehameha), Volleyball magazine’s High School Player of the year in 2007, and Brittany Hewitt out of Eagle High in Idaho.Florida ranked first among the top 30 recruiting classes, followed by Texas, Cal, UCLA and USC. Transfers were not included in the rankings. On the Wahine roster this fall will be junior Catherine Fowler, who played two seasons at Arkansas.Five Hawaii prep products were also rated by PrepVolleyball.com: Punahou’s Sydney Yogi (Texas, No. 2) and Diana Hiromoto (Loyola Marymount, highest honorable mention); ‘Iolani’s Lauren Minkel (Long Beach State, No. 10); Kamehameha’s Jordan Meredith (Boston College, honorable mention); and Word of Life’s Chanteal Satele (St. Mary’s, honorable mention).Three other Western Athletic Conference teams were also rated: New Mexico State (high honorable mention), Boise State (honorable mention) and Fresno State (honorable mention).

Adriane Sims Stone of Mililani finished eighth and the University of Hawaii’s Amber Kaufman 12th in today’s high jump final of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.Stone, 28, cleared the first two heights (1.79 and 1.84 meters) but not the third (1.89). Kaufman, 19, cleared 1.79 but missed on three attempts at 1.84.Chante Howard won the event with a jump of 1.97 (6 feet, 5.5 inches).