Star-Bulletin reporter wins national award

Coaches name Cindy Luis best in print at covering volleyball

The Star-Bulletin's Cindy Luis yesterday was named the national winner in the print category of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Grant Burger Media Award. She was also one of four finalists for the overall award, which was won by Penn State sports information staffer Jen Armson.

The AVCA praised Luis for "stories (that) appeal to both the Hawaii fan and the national reader," for her ability to "tell local and national volleyball stories to her readers that may otherwise be missed," and for her work on the Star-Bulletin's nationally acclaimed 2005 UH women's volleyball preview magazine "Wahine Insider."

Luis was nominated for the honor by Armson, a former player at Northwestern.

"Whether it is men's or women's volleyball, Cindy is always on top of her game, giving the sport the full coverage it deserves," Armson said. "And not only does Cindy just cover her own team, she knows what is going on in every other major program in the country. She knows the stories that are important to her readers and to the players themselves. Cindy goes the extra mile to let her readers know the 'inside' stories of the teams, coaches and programs."

Luis is in her 25th year at the Star-Bulletin.

The other national finalists were Tom Collett of the Florida Radio Network in the broadcast category and Michael Murphy of walthamvolleyball.com in the Web category.

Hawaii's Pakalani Bello was a West Region honoree in the Grant Burger sports information directors category.