BASEBALL BOWS HAVE HIGH HOPES

By Fred Guzman
ESPN550.com

Expectations are running high as the University of Hawaii baseball team begins its conference campaign tonight against San Jose State in the opener of a four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium.

UH has played impressively during the recent non-conference portion of its schedule – including taking 3 of 4 against then-18th-ranked Coastal Carolina last week -- for an overall mark of 16-9 record.

But San Jose State's resume is even more impressive. The Spartans are 19-5 and feature arguably the best pitching staff in the seven-team WAC, which includes defending national champion Fresno State.

The two teams tangle at 6:35 p.m. today, play two tomorrow starting at 3 o'clock and close out the series at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.

UH will send Jayson Kramer to the mound tonight, while struggling Jared Alexander and emerging Matt Sisto will on Saturday. Head coach Mike Trapasso has not designated a starter for Sunday's finale.

MEN'S HOOPS: Bob Nash received a one-year contract extension with an option for a second year if the UH basketball team wins 18 games or qualifies for a post-season tournament over the next two seasons.

More importantly, perhaps, Nash secured commitments from a pair of highly-touted athletes who he hopes will resolve one of his team's biggest needs – backcourt players who can shoot and handle the ball.

UH was 13-17 during the past season and is 24-36 during Nash's two years on the job since he took over for Riley Wallace.

The additions of 6-foot guards Dwain Williams and Jeremy Lay, he hopes, will elevate the level of Hawaii's backcourt.

Williams – one of the nation's top-rated prep guards -- was the starting point guard for Providence as a sophomore during the 2007-08 season and scored 23 points – including six 3-pointers – in a stunning upset of Connecticut.

Williams averaged 11 points and led the Friars with a .902 shooting percentage and shot 40.7 percent from behind the arc. He left Providence after the firing of its then-head coach and now has resurfaced at Manoa.

UH also landed Lay, who averaged nearly 17 points and more than six assists last season for a junior college in Oklahoma. He also led the team in steals.

If those two players pan out, they should dramatically elevate Hawaii's dismal three-point shooting a horrid ball-handling. UH is scheduled to return its entire starting five – including talented swingman Roderick Flemings.

VOLLEYBALL: The UH men continued to struggle, rallying late but still suffering a five-set road loss to ninth-ranked UCLA despite 28 kills by FR Steven Hunt. The two teams meet again tonight, with Hawaii having dropped to 6-16 overall and 3-14 in the conference.

SOFTBALL: The Rainbow Wahine are on the road this weekend, facing league-leading and nationally 22nd-ranked Fresno State in a three-game series. Hawaii is 15-19 overall and 3-3 in the WAC, compared to Fresno State's marks of 21-13 and 5-1.

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