FRESNO, Calif. - The Western Athletic Conference announced its 2007 all-WAC softball team and individual awards at this morning's WAC Softball Banquet. Hawai`i swept the individual honors with Tyleen Tausaga winning the WAC Player of the Year, Kate Robinson was named WAC Pitcher of the Year, Kathryn Grimes earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors, and the WAC Coach of the Year was head coach Bob Coolen.

This is the first time since Fresno State in 1999 where one team has swept all the major awards. As a team, Hawai`i had 10 players earn all-WAC first or second team honors. It is the most all-WAC conference Hawai`i has ever had in a single season. The 'Bows had six earn all-WAC status twice in 1998 and 2003. It is the first time Hawai`i has swept the regular season awards. The Rainbow Wahine also received the WAC regular season trophy today.

Tausaga, a senior first baseman from Honolulu (Kaimuki HS), hit .446 (25-for-56) with four doubles, six home runs, 16 runs scored, and 23 RBI. She also earned first team all-WAC honors for the third straight year after making the second team as a freshman. Tausaga broke the school's all-time RBI mark with 154. She is in the top five in five other offensive categories in Hawai`i's all-time record book.

Robinson, a junior from Honolulu (Kamehameha Schools), went 8-0 in the WAC with a save and is 15-0 overall. She led the WAC and UH with a 1.15 ERA with 10 starts, eight complete games and four shut-outs. In 54.2 innings, she held opponents to a .188 average. Robinson also earned first-team honors as a utility player. As a first baseman and pitcher, she also was solid at the plate. She hit .411 in conference (23-for-56) and led the WAC and UH in RBI (34), home runs (9), total bases (54). Although Robinson made the WAC all-tournament team last season, it is Robinson's first time earning all-WAC honors.

Grimes, a freshman out of H.B. Plant HS in Tampa, Fla., hit .400 as a catcher. She went 14-for-35 with six runs scored, two home runs, and 10 RBI. It is the third time a Rainbow Wahine has earned the honor. Stacey Porter earned the honor in 2001 and current player Kaulana Gould won it in 2005.

Robinson is the third UH pitcher to be named WAC Pitcher of the Year. Melissa Coogan earned the awards in 2003 and Desiree Duran was honored in 2001.

Tausaga is also the third Hawai`i player to win the Player of the Year award. The 'Bows earned Player of the Year honors four-straight years from 2000-2003. Dana Degan earned the award in 2000. Kate Judd was honored in 2001 and 2002, while All-American Stacey Porter won it in 2003.

The all-WAC first team had five Rainbow Wahine. Besides Tausaga and Robinson, Clare Warwick, a sophomore from Melba, Australia, earned her first all-WAC honor for her stellar play at third base. On offense, she led the conference with 24 runs scored was second in the WAC in hits with 24. She hit .385 in conference with two doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBI.

Gould, a junior from Ewa Beach, O`ahu (Kamehameha Schools) earned her third first-team all-WAC honor. Gould hit a team high .448 (26-for-58) in the WAC. She was second on the team with 19 runs and had four doubles, one triple, one home run and 16 RBI. She also led the team with two stolen bases and had a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Senior Alana Power earned a spot on the first team with the league's "at-large" selection. Power, a second baseman, out of Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i (Kealakehe HS) hit .333 in conference (18-for-54) with 10 runs, three doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI.

The second team also had five Rainbow Wahine. Grimes was named the second team catcher. At shortstop, Valana Manuma got her first all-WAC honor. She hit .349 in conference (15-for-43) with 15 runs scored, four doubles, two home runs, and seven RBI.

The outfield was represented by two Hawai`i players. Sophomore rightfielder Tanisha Milca was named to the second team for the second year. The Kailua HS alum hit .333 (9-for-27) with 10 runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI. She is one of seven 'Bows that scored at least 10 runs in conference.

Leftfielder Brandi Peiler was selected to her first all-WAC team. Peiler, a junior out of Kamehameha Schools and Hawaii Pacific, hit .327 (17-for-52) with four runs, three doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI.

Sophomore Justine Smethurst earned a spot on the second team as a pitcher. Last season, she was an at-large selection on the first team. This year, she went 4-2 with a 2.31 ERA. She fired her first no-hitter of the year at Utah State. She was second on the team with 39.1 innings pitched. Smethurst held opponents to a team low .188.

The No. 12 Rainbow Wahine (45-9, 16-2 WAC) will start play in the WAC tournament on Thurs., May 10 at 1l:00 am at Bulldog Stadium on the Fresno State campus. Top-seeded Hawai`i will take on the winner between the sixth seed Utah State and seventh seed Louisiana Tech game.

2007 ALL-WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAM
First Team
C - Nichole Willis, Sr., Fresno State
1B - Tyleen Tausaga, Sr., Hawai`i
2B - Jenna Cervantex, So., Fresno State
3B - Clare Warwick, So., Hawai`i
SS - Haley Perkins, So., Fresno State
OF - Kaulana Gould, Jr., Hawai`i
OF - Liz Perez, Jr., San Jose State
OF - Brittany Puzey, So., Nevada
UT - Kate Robinson, Jr., Hawai`i
DP - Jamie Fife, Sr., Utah State
P - Robin Mackin, So., P, Hawai`i
At-large - Emma Barnes, OF, Louisiana Tech
At-large - Alana Power, 2B, Hawai`i

Second Team
C - Katie Grimes, Fr., Hawai`i
1B - Kristin Sylvester, Jr., Fresno State
2B - Kym Silagyi, So., Nevada
3B - Stephanie Herrera, Jr., New Mexico State
SS - Valana Manuma, Jr., Hawai`i
OF - Sarah Hunt, So., Nevada
OF - Tanisha Milca, So., Hawai`i
OF - Brandi Peiler, Jr., Hawai`i
UT - Merryanne Barr, So., Fresno State
DP - Michelle Beach, So., Nevada
P - Justine Smethurst, So., Hawai`i
At-large - Ashley Roszkos, Jr., New Mexico State
At-large - Kim Watson, So., New Mexico State

WAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tyleen Tausaga, Hawai`i
WAC PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Kate Robinson, Hawai`i
WAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Katie Grimes, Hawai`i
WAC COACH OF THE YEAR: Bob Coolen, Hawai`i

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