Kalani grad Miyashiro earns more honors

Nearly two months after a disappointing second-round loss to BYU in the NCAA tournament, the honors continue to pour in for Washington's Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05).

Miyashiro was named Asics/Volleyball Magazine defensive player of the year and an honorable-mention pick to its All-America team.

The 5-foot-7 sophomore libero was named to the AVCA All-America third team last month.

Miyashiro proved herself as one of the best back-row defenders in the country by averaging 5.65 digs per game, which ranked second in the Pac-10.

She helped the Huskies earn their sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament. They finished the season 27-4.

Miyashiro was also a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and an AVCA first-team All-Pacific Region selection. She finished second on the team in assists and was third in aces with 29.

LIEBERT SEES PLENTY OF LOCAL FOES

Pepperdine junior middle blocker Eric Liebert (Punahou '04) is seeing faces from high school just about every time he steps on the court recently.

It started last Friday in a four-game victory over winless Pacific. Liebert matched wits with fellow Buffanblu graduate Colan Ishii (Punahou '07). Liebert had five kills and hit .500, while Ishii played in three games and had eight digs. A day later, Liebert took the court against Stanford and lined up opposite Kawika Shoji (Iolani '06) and Jordan Inafuku (Kamehameha '07).

Liebert finished with three kills in three attempts as the second-ranked Waves beat Stanford in four.

Shoji finished with 22 assists, seven kills and five digs and Inafuku added five digs.

The Waves dropped their first match of the season in a stunner to 10th-ranked UC Irvine on Wednesday night. Liebert had four kills, three blocks and an ace, but was outdone by Anteaters junior libero Brent Asuka (Iolani '05), who had a team-high 15 digs.

MEN'S SWIMMING

» N.C. State junior Andrew Lester (Moanalua '05) placed first in both the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle events in a dual-meet loss to Clemson. A day earlier, he finished second in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke events in a victory over Gardner-Webb.

» Air Force junior Bryan Avery (Mililani '05) won the 200-yard freestyle and placed second in the 100-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard butterfly in a dual-meet loss to UNLV. Teammate Kai Yamashiro (Iolani '05) took second in the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard individual medley events and third in the 1,000-yard backstroke.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING

» LMU freshman Aja Kusao (Iolani '07) placed third in the 50-yard freestyle and sophomore Mallorie Lim (Iolani '06) was fourth in the 200 IM in a dual-meet victory over Cal State Bakersfield.

» San Diego sophomore Laura Pope (Lahainaluna '06) finished fifth in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events in a dual-meet loss to UC San Diego.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

» Colorado School of Mines junior Kyle Pape (Iolani '05) was 12-for-12 from the free-throw line and scored 31 points in a six-point loss to Colorado Christian last Friday. Pape finished with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists the next day in a 64-62 loss to Metro State.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

» Washington University junior Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05) had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists to lead the Bears to their six straight win.

» Pepperdine junior Taylor Smith (Kalaheo '05) earned her first start of the season and had two points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal in 20 minutes as the Waves fell to Santa Clara 71-66.

» Gonzaga senior Rachel Kane (Punahou '04) had four points, two assists and one rebound in 17 minutes as the Zags defeated San Francisco 74-70.

» Menlo College senior Kepua Lee (Moanalua '04) recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds in a 57-52 loss to Simpson College. Junior Kelci Fushikoshi (Lahainaluna '05) added nine points and five rebounds.