Kamana‘o named
a first-team
All-American

The setter is joined in AVCA
honors by Wahine teammate
Victoria Prince, a second-team pick

Their only regret is the rest of their teammates won't be at tomorrow's awards banquet in Long Beach, Calif., a day away from the NCAA national championship match.

Hawaii sophomore setter Kanoe Kamana'o and junior middle Victoria Prince yesterday were named to the AVCA All-America team and will attend tomorrow's luncheon.

Kamana'o, the AVCA's Freshman of the Year and a third-team selection last season, was named to the first team, and Prince, a transfer from Washington State, was named to the second team.

Topping the All-America team are senior outside hitters Stacey Gordon from Ohio State and Ogonna Nnamani of Stanford. The pair have been selected to the elite squad for the fourth time.

Freshman of the Year honors went to Sarah Pavan, who plays right side/opposite hitter for Nebraska. The Player of the Year will be announced at tomorrow's banquet.

To be considered for the All-America award a player has to make the all-region team. Kamana'o and Prince were first-team all-region picks, while sophomore hitter Alicia Arnott earned honorable mention.

The Rainbow Wahine (30-1) saw their season ended by Wisconsin in the regional semifinal in Green Bay, Wis., last Friday.

"I feel happy and honored for the award, but it was a whole team effort," Kamana'o said. "I couldn't do it without them. I couldn't get the achievements on my own. "

Kamana'o was the only player in the country to average more than 13.62 assists, 3.09 digs and 1.15 blocks per game. After two seasons, she ranks sixth at UH in career assists (3,276).

The "team" concept had been the team all season.

Many coaches and opponents remarked that Hawaii was not as intimidating as its previous teams but somehow found a way to win through teamwork and solid fundamentals.

"Wow, the dream continues for me," Prince said. "In volleyball, it takes every single person on the team to make it happen and to make it work in order for that one person to get the award.

"This is all thanks to my teammates. I have to thank all of them. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have got it."

Prince averaged 3.39 kills per game in her first season as a Wahine, hitting .411 with a team-high 38 digs. Her hitting percentage puts her No. 2 on the single-season list, behind Angelica Ljungquist's .417 in 1996.

2004 AVCA Division I All-America Team

First Team
Player	School	Pos.	Cl..	Ht.
Emily Adams	USC	MB	Sr.	6-6
Kelly Bowman	Minnesota	S/H	So.	5-10
Keao Burdine	USC	OH	Sr.	6-1
Melissa Elmer	Nebraska	MB	Jr.	6-2
Paula Gentil	Minnesota	DS/Lib	Jr.	5-9
Stacey Gordon	Ohio State	OH	Sr.	5-11
Kanoe Kamana'o	Hawaii	S	So.	5-8
Ogonna Nnamani	Stanford	OH	Sr.	6-1
Sarah Pavan	Nebraska	RS/Opp	Fr.	6-5
Courtney Thompson	Washington	S	So.	5-8
Mira Topic	Texas	OH	Sr.	6-3
Sam Tortorello	Penn State	S	Jr.	5-11

Second Team
OH: Devon Forster, San Diego; Laura Jones, Texas A&M; Christal Morrison, Washington; Jennifer Saleaumua, Nebraska; Kelly Wing, UC Irvine. MB: Bethany Howden, Texas; Camille Leffall, California; Victoria Prince, Hawaii. RS/Opp: Syndie Nadeau, Penn State. S: Lindsey Hunter, Missouri; Marisa Main, Ohio State; DS/Lib.: Chrissie Zartman, UCLA.

SOURCE: AVCA