LAS VEGAS – The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team took home several postseason awards Sunday night at the Western Athletic Conference postseason banquet, including Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year, announced by the conference, prior to the WAC Tournament at the Orleans Arena.

 

Sophomore Kanani Danielson was named the WAC Player of the Year, following an outstanding second year in the conference. Brittany Hewitt made an immediate impact in her first season and was named Freshman of the Year and head coach Dave Shoji was named the Coach of the Year.

 

The Rainbow Wahine had seven players earn All-WAC honors, including four players named to the first team. Along with Danielson, seniors Amber Kaufman and Aneli Cubi-Otineru and junior Dani Mafua were named first team.

 

Three players were named to the second team, including Hewitt, junior Elizabeth Ka'aihue and sophomore Stephanie Ferrell. Hewitt was also named to the freshman team.

 

Danielson was named Player of the Year after averaging 4.24 kills per set and hitting .355 during conference play. Danielson's honor gives UH 14-straight WAC Player of the Year awards since joining the WAC in 1996.

 

Hewitt finished WAC play ranked second in hitting percentage at .397 and fifth in blocks at 1.23 per set. Overall, Hewitt ranks 15^th in the country in blocks. Hewitt's honor is the second straight year UH has had a Freshman of the Year and sixth honor all-time in the WAC.

 

Shoji became just the second coach all-time to reach 1,000 career wins at the Division I level, and completed his 12^th overall undefeated conference record, and 10^th undefeated WAC season. Shoji's Coach of the Year honor is his seventh WAC honor and 10^th overall.

 

Kaufman was named to the first team for the second straight year after leading the conference in hitting percentage at .472. Kaufman also ranks third in the country in hitting percentage. Cubi-Otineru earned her third straight first team honor, averaging 3.50 kills per set, leading the conference in aces and hitting .358. Mafua was named to the first team for the first time in her career after being named second team last season. Mafua led the conference averaging 11.76 assists per set and ranks 14^th in the country.

 

Ka'aihue earned her second WAC honor and her first second team honor. Ka'aihue was named to the freshman team her first season. This year she averaged 3.90 digs per set playing libero all season. Ferrell earned her second straight WAC honor after being named to the all-freshman team last season.

 

The third-ranked Rainbow Wahine open the WAC Tournament on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PT against the winner of the Nevada-Fresno State match.

 

Aneli Cubi-Ontineru

 

Elizabeth Ka'aihue

 

 

Freshman of the Year: Brittany Hewitt