HONOLULU - University of Hawai`i at Manoa men's and women's student-athletes experienced incredible success during the 2007-08 academic year, winning seven conference championships and earning numerous regional and national honors that brought tremendous recognition and distinction to UH and the state of Hawai`i.
Some of the UHAD's accomplishments during the 2007-08 academic year include:
Seven conference championships (five regular season and two tournament titles)
13 national postseason appearances
13 All-Americans
One national player of the year
Five conference players of the year
Five conference coaches of the year
82 conference All-Academic honorees
The football team finished the regular season undefeated at 12-0, the best record in school history and the only undefeated team in the nation in 2007.
The football team was invited to the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the first appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game in school history.
The football team finished in the Top 25 for the second-consecutive year.
Quarterback Colt Brennan was invited to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist and finished third for the prestigious award.
The football team won UH's first outright Western Athletic Conference championship in school history.
The women's volleyball team won its 12th straight WAC title and eighth-straight WAC tournament title.
The women's volleyball team led the nation in attendance for the 13th straight season.
The women's soccer team won its first WAC tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.
The football, women's volleyball, and soccer teams won WAC championships during the fall, marking the first time in WAC history that the same school has won all three championships.
The coed sailing team won the PCCSC Sloop Sailing Championship.
The women's sailing team advanced to the ICSA Women's National Championship.
Women's diver Emma Friesen won the NCAA Championship in the one-meter springboard, becoming the second UH diver to win an NCAA championship.
Emma Friesen was named Tri-Diver of the Year and also won the WAC championship.
Men's diver Magnus Frick finished second in the NCAA championships in the one-meter and was named the Conference USA Diver of the Year.
The men's tennis team won its first-ever WAC title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
The women's softball advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight year and eighth time in school history.
The women's track and field squad finished a school-best second place at the WAC Indoor Championships.
The women's track and field team finished 25th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, including three top-six, All-America finishes.
A summary of each sport's accomplishments in 2007-08 follows:
FOOTBALL
The football team had the best season in school history and received national recognition after finishing the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record (the nation's only undefeated team). UH was invited to play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the first BCS bowl appearance in school history. The Warriors finished the regular the season ranked No. 17 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press Poll, the highest rankings in school history. UH also became the third non-BCS team to make it to a BCS bowl game. The Warriors finished WAC play with an 8-0 mark and won the first outright WAC title in school history. The Warriors beat defending WAC champion Boise State, 39-27, to clinch the championship in front of a sold-out Aloha Stadium crowd. UH dominsted the WAC postseason awards, placing 11 players on the All-WAC first team, the most in school history. Head Coach June Jones won his second-consecutive WAC Coach of the Year award and Colt Brennan won his second-straight WAC Offensive Player of the Year award. Brennan was also recognized nationally, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting after being invited to the ceremony in New York. Brennan also gained sole possession of three more Football Bowl Subdivision records in 2007 - - - career touchdown passes (131), most TDs responsible for (146) and most points responsible for (886). In all, Brennan broke or tied 29 NCAA records.
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
The women's volleyball team, which led the nation in attendance for the 13th straight year, won both the regular season and tournament championships in the Western Athletic Conference. The Rainbow Wahine won their 12th consecutive regular season title and eighth-consecutive tournament title. UH advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 26th time in school history. Jamie Houston was named to the AVCA All-West Region team and AVCA All-American honorable mention, while Juliana Sanders earned All-West Region honorable mention honors. Houston was also named the WAC Player of the Year.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The women's soccer team captured its first WAC tournament championship, beating Fresno State in the WAC tourney final. UH also won the regular-season championship, its third in the program's history. The WAC tournament victory advanced UH into the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. The Rainbow Wahine had seven players earn All-WAC honors, the most in school history. Ambree Ako was named the Offensive Player of the Year and Tehane Higa was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Ako is the second player in school history to earn the award and Higa is the first player in school history to be honored with the award. Pinsoom Tenzing won his second Coach of the Year award and Taryn Fukuroku, Jessica Domingo and Nicole Mikula were All-WAC first team selections.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Senior Chantelle Wilder won the BYU-Hawai`i Invitational, Chaminade Invitational, and HPU Invitational. Wilder was named WAC Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week twice during the fall and finished in the Top 40 at the NCAA West Regional.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Diver Magnus Frick capped a spectacular career with a second-place finish at the NCAA Championships on the one-meter board and finished sixth at the NCAA's on the three-meter board. Frick was named the Conference USA Diver of the Year after winning gold on the one-meter and three-meter boards during the championships. Anita Rossing was named the Diving Coach of the Year and Mats Wiktorrson won the platform diving final. Wiktorrson also finished 14th at the NCAA Championships on the platform. The swimming and diving team finished second at the Conference USA Championships for the second-straight year.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Sophomore Emma Friesen became the second diver in UH history to win a national championship. Friesen won the one-meter springboard championship, breaking a UH record along the way. Friesen was named a CSCAA All-American and NCAA Tri-Diver of the Year for her efforts. Friesen finished sixth at the NCAA Championships on the three-meter board and also won the WAC one-meter championship. Mike Brown was named the WAC Coach of the Year. Freshman Stephanie De Lima won the WAC championship on the platform and sophomore swimmer Emma Berry won three gold medals at the WAC. UH finished third at the WAC Championship.
SAILING
UH captured the Pacific Coast Sailing Conference Sloop Championship and qualified for the ICSA Sloop National Championships. Mark Spector won the PCCSC Men's Singlehanded Championship. The Rainbow Wahine finished second at the PCCSC Women's Championship and qualified for the ISCA Women's National Championships, their ninth nationals berth in the last 11 years. Five UH sailors earned PCCSC all-conference, including Becky Mabardy, Andrew Meade, Jackie McLoughlin, Mike Scott and Hannah Tuson-Turner.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Senior forward Tanya Smith was named to the All-WAC second team, along with earning All Defensive Team honors. Smith led the conference in rebounds and blocked shots and finished second in the nation in rebounding average. Smith was also named WAC Player of the Week three times.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Senior guard Matt Gibson was named to the All-WAC second team and All-WAC Defensive Team. Gibson led the team in scoring, assists and steals. UH had two players join the 1,000 point club this past season, seniors Bobby Nash and Gibson.
WOMEN'S GOLF
The women's golf team finished third in the WAC and had three top-10 finishes during the spring season. Senior Xyra Suyetsugu was named All-WAC first team at the WAC championships.
MEN'S GOLF
The men's golf team finished in eighth place at the WAC Championship and had three top-15 finishes during the spring season.
SOFTBALL
The softball team played in the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive season and the eighth time in school history. UH advanced to the championship game of the Tempe Regional, before falling to eventual national champion Arizona State. Seniors Kate Robinson and Kaulana Gould both earned All-WAC first-team honors while Audrey Andrade, Tanisha Milca, Brandi Peiler, and Clare Warwick made the second team. Gould is the first player in UH history to earn first team conference honors all four years. At the WAC Tournament, Robinson, Andrade and Richie-Anne Titcomb earned all-tournament honors. The Rainbow Wahine finished the season 40-21, marking the seventh time in school history they have won over 40 games. Robinson broke the single-season home run record with 21 and set the career record with 44. Robinson was also a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist.
BASEBALL
The baseball team finished the WAC season in a tie for second place and earned the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament. UH had five players earn All-WAC honors, including first teamers Jared Alexander, Brandon Haislet and Jonathan Hee. Greg Garcia and Landon Hernandez were named to the All-WAC second team. The 'Bows had four players taken in the Major League Baseball Draft, including Matt Daly, Haislet, Hee and Hernandez. Hee also earned ABCA/Rawlings first team all-region honors and won the gold glove award for his play at shortstop.
WOMEN'S WATER POLO
The women's water polo team finished with another winning campaign, recording a 20-10 record and being ranked fourth in nation. The Rainbow Wahine narrowly missed playing for the NCAA Championship for the second-straight season. Junior Kelly Mason was named a first team All-American and was voted to the All-MPSF first team. Angela Turnbull was named a third team All-American and honorable mention All-MPSF selection. Freshmen Carmen Eggens and Leonie Van Der Molen were both named to the All-Freshman Team. Junior Lisa van Raalte was also named All-American honorable mention.
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Junior libero Ric Cervantes was named to the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation third team. Cervantes led the country in digs per game (3.32) and set two school dig records along the way. Cervantes totaled 342 digs and averaged 3.32 per game.
MEN'S TENNIS
The men's tennis team posted its best season in school history, winning the WAC championship for the first time and earning UH's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. UH upset highly ranked Boise State and Fresno State on its way to the WAC title. John Nelson was named WAC Coach of the Year, Dennis Lajola was voted Freshman of the Year and earned All-WAC first team honors. Junior Sascha Heinemann and sophomore Andreas Weber garnered all-WAC second-team honors.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Sophomore Sophie Kobuch finished the season ranked nationally for the first time in her career and was named to the All-WAC first team. Kobuch and doubles partner Chloe Bihag were also named All-WAC second team in doubles.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
The women's track & field team finished second at the WAC Indoor Championships, narrowly missing first place by a single point. The second place finish was the best in school history. During the outdoor season, UH finished 25th in the country at the NCAA Championships and three student-athletes finish in the top-six in their events. Amber Kaufman finished fifth in the high jump, Annett Wichmann, sixth in the heptathlon; and Emily Sheppard, sixth in the high jump. The Rainbow Wahine also sent a school-record nine athletes to the NCAA West Regionals. Wichmann won the WAC heptathlon for the third-straight year and Kaufman broke a school record in the high jump and won her first WAC championship in the process. Wichmann broke a school record with five NCAA championship appearances in both indoor and outdoor events.
CHEERLEADING
The UH cheer squad placed seventh in the 2008 Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship. It was the fifth straight year that the 'Bows have placed in the top 10 nationally. This year UH earned the West Region's No. 1 seed for the third straight year heading into the National Championship.
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