StarBulletin.com

Danielson an All-American


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POSTED: Thursday, December 17, 2009

TAMPA, Fla. » There's an unspoken “;Golden Rule”; in island volleyball circles: Humility is what generates the desire to bring your best to the court.

Those who know Hawaii sophomore hitter Kanani Danielson know that her talent is exceeded only by her humility. She has continued to bring both when playing for the Rainbow Wahine, something recognized by the American Coaches Volleyball Association yesterday.

Danielson was one of 14 players named to the All-America first team and “;it's no surprise,”; Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. “;She's definitely one of the best players in the country.”;

               

     

 

UH VOLLEYBALL FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

        Sophomore Kanani Danielson became the 16th Rainbow Wahine volleyball player to be named a first-team All-American since 1981:
       

» Robyn Ah Mow (1995, '96)

       

» Heather Bown (1998, '99)

       

» Cheri Boyer (1990) » Nahaku Brown (1981) » Deitre Collins (1981, '82, '83)

       

» Kanani Danielson (2009)

       

» Suzanne Eagye (1986) » Joyce Ka'apuni (1983) » Lily Kahumoku (2000, 2002) » Kanoe Kamana'o (2004, '06) » Angelica Ljungquist (1995, '96*) » Kori Pulaski (1982)

       

» Karrie Trieschman (1989, '90) » Kee Williams (1991) » Teee Williams (1987*, '88, '89*) » Kim Willoughby (2001, '02, '03*)

       

*National player of the year

       

Senior hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru was named to the third team, giving the Rainbow Wahine program its 25th All-America athlete and 48th All-America certificate.

Earning honorable mention were junior setter Dani Mafua and senior middle Amber Kaufman. While Shoji was happy Cubi-Otineru was recognized, he was disappointed that Mafua and Kaufman weren't on the first three teams.

“;Dani is certainly among the top setters in the country,”; he said. “;She does have another year to play, but we all know how valuable she is to our team.

“;And we all know Amber's value to our team. She's up there nationally in hitting percentage (fourth at .434). If she were on any other team, her kills per game would go way up (2.46 kps).”;

Danielson, a third-team selection last year, is averaging 4.25 kills, 2.30 digs and 0.65 blocks per set, hitting .327. She was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Stanford Regional last week, posting her seventh double-double (21 kills, 13 digs) in the regional semifinal against Illinois last Friday. The reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year has had six 20-plus-kill matches this season, including a career-high 32 at Utah State on Nov. 16.

Cubi-Otineru is averaging 3.08 kills and 2.53 digs per set, hitting .301 while leading the team with 56 service aces. She was named to the all-regional team with a combined 19 kills, 19 digs and five aces in the two matches. Cubi-Otineru has four double-doubles on the year, including a 22-kill, 11-dig outing at Utah State on Nov. 16, where she hit .462.

Earning her third All-America honor was Washington senior libero Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05), who was named to the second team for the second consecutive season. She was a third-team pick as a sophomore as well as the national defensive player of the year.