Hawaii Grown: College Athletics
Al Chase
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A lot of aloha at NCAA women's volleyball
Hawaii volleyball is well represented in the upcoming NCAA Division I women's tournament.
The defending national champion Washington Huskies (25-4) open play today against Colorado State (20-9) with two Hawaii players who have contributed consistently this year.
Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05) was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team.
The setter/libero leads the Huskies with 1,492 assists and 550 digs in 100 games.
Ashley Aratani (Iolani '04), a junior defensive specialist, is tied for second with 25 aces and has 168 digs.
» Kekai Crabbe (Kamehameha '03), a senior and the West Coast Conference Libero of the Year, leads the Pepperdine Waves (16-11) with 459 digs. She also has 55 assists and 16 aces.
Lecca Roberts (Seabury Hall '04), a junior outside hitter, has seen limited action for the Waves, getting 31 kills in 17 games.
The Waves play Long Beach State (25-5) today. The winner plays the Hawaii-Oregon winner tomorrow.
» Shellane Ogoshi (Roosevelt '04), the Colonial Athletic Association Setter of the Year, will lead the Hofstra Pride in today's match against the Cornell Big Red, who are coached by former Hawaii All-American Deitre Collins-Parker.
Ogoshi has dished out 1,213 assists in 2006 and contributed 292 kills, 101 digs and 26 service aces. The most outstanding player at the CAA tournament, Ogoshi also earned All-CAA first-team accolades this season.
» Collins has a 54-23 record in three seasons at Cornell. The Big Red (18-8) won the Ivy League title this year and are making their second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
The Siena College Saints (22-12), Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champs, play Minnesota (23-7) today at Albany, N.Y.
» Kathi Kobayashi (Punahou '05), a sophomore defensive specialist, leads the Saints with 420 digs in 115 games. Kaui Robello (Punahou '06), a freshman listed as a setter/defensive specialist, played 117 games and put down 181 kills. She and Kobayashi both have served 40 aces.
The St. John's Red Storm (30-4), upset in the Big East Conference tourney by Notre Dame, also is playing at Albany, meeting the host Great Danes (19-12) of the America East Conference.
» Patti Hardimon (Moanalua '03) leads St. John's with 3.64 kills per game and is second with 374 digs and 44 aces.
Kathleen Yee (Moanalua '05), a sophomore libero, leads the Red Storm with 4.58 digs per game and is third with 31 aces.
» Pohai Nu'uhiwa (Punahou '05), a sophomore libero leads the Winthrop University Eagles (34-2) with 568 digs in 126 games. She is second on the team with 38 aces and has 66 assists.
The Eagles open against the Northern Iowa Panthers (27-7).
» Lacey Lavarias (Iolani '04), a redshirt sophomore defensive specialist, has 29 digs while playing in 41 of Utah's 102 games.
The Utes (27-3) play against Michigan State (19-11) in the first round.
Mailou rewarded for tournament play
Jenna Mailou, a freshman setter for the Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Ariz.) Coyotes, was named to the all-tournament first team at the National Junior College Athletic Association championship.
The Baldwin graduate helped the Coyotes to a second-place finish.
Pearl City's Vee Hiapo is the head coach. Kurstan Olaso, a member of Kamehameha's 1993 state championship team, is an assistant.