By KEVIN JAKAHI
By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
The Ventura junior college football team, home to six Big Island players, is ranked No. 2 in Southern California and No. 9 in the nation, racing out to its best start in 14 years with a 4-0 record.
The Pirates’ latest win wasn’t easy, requiring four overtimes to prevail over visiting Bakersfield 30-24 on Saturday. The Big Island’s half-dozen are safeties Scotty Wong and Kamaka Lewis, and linebacker Kalei Amorin (Hilo, 2011); cornerback Keha Aiwohi, linebacker Colby Lewis and offensive lineman CJ Hoohuli (Kamehameha, 2011).
Lewis redshirted last season while the others are in their last year of eligibility. Aiwohi played his first season at Eastern Washington.
A look at some other island graduates:
• Peni Vea (Kealakehe, ’11) missed his second straight game, UNLV’s 38-35 win over Air Force on Saturday, with a leg injury. The freshman safety led the Rebels (1-3) in tackles in each of the first three games.
• Kali‘i Kunitomo (Konawaena, ’09) has 13 catches for 188 yards for Chapman (1-1), a Division III school in Orange, Calif. In a 17-14 loss to Whitworth, he had five receptions for 36 yards.
• Kelson Kawai (Kohala, ’10) has been busy for Pacific (1-2), a Division III school. He leads the Boxers in all-purpose yards, averaging 99.3 yards per game on rushing, receiving and kick returns. The wide receiver has also been used on defense, and has made two tackles.
• Maua Vole Jr. (Kealakehe, ‘10) had one tackle in Jamestown’s 13-10 loss to Valley City State. The Jimmies, an NAIA school, has a 1-4 record.
Volleyball
• Ashia Joseph (Waiakea, ’11) is sparking Southern Idaho College (17-1) to a healthy start. Last season as a freshman, she made the Region 18 second team and ranked third in assists in the region.
• Kuulei Kabalis (Kamehameha, ’09) is averaging 3.0 assist per set for Kansas State. The senior libero compiled 478 digs last season, ninth in school history for a season. She has 138 digs for the Wildcats (13-1).
• Ziona Verhulsdonk (Hawaii Prep, ’09) is pounding 2.13 kills per set, third most for Western New Mexico (5-9). The senior right-side hitter is joined on the team by two other local products, Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama (Waiakea, ’12) and Chyler Imai (Kohala, ’12). Both are defenders. Pakani-Tsukiyama has 91 digs, fourth most on the team. Imai has 21 digs.
• Destynee Figueroa (Hilo, ’12) and Kalei Paige (Kamehameha, ’12) have helped Oteru (Colo.) junior college post an 11-3 record.
To submit a collegiate athlete with Big Island ties for publication, email kjakahi@hawaiitribune-herald.com.