Saturday, November 13, 1999
BYUH, HPU in showdown
Star-Bulletin staffBrigham Young-Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University won their respective matches yesterday in the semifinals of the Pacific West Conference playoffs.
The wins set the stage for a showdown between the nation's top two NCAA Division II schools today at 5:30 p.m., HST at Seattle.
At stake is the conference championship. The outcome could affect the seeding for the NCAA West Regional, although it is believed that BYUH will host the tournament, that starts Nov. 11, regardless of the outcome.
To get to the final, Arlete Silva pounded 14 kills to lead the Seasiders (25-1) past Alaska Fairbanks, 15-0, 15-13, 15-1.
HPU also swept, as Gisele Rocha, Debbie Sant'Anna and Flavia Gabinio each put down 13 kills to lead the Sea Warriors past Seattle Pacific, 15-3, 15-12, 15-8.
SILVA, NAVALTA HONORED
Brigham Young-Hawaii has won in straight sets nearly every time out this season. It's no surprise, then,that the Seasiders would nearly sweep when it came time for conference honors.
Yesterday, the Pacific West Conference announced that Arlete Silva was again the choice for Player of the Year and that BYUH's Wilfred Navalta was the repeat pick for Coach of the Year.
Navalta has led the Seasiders to eight national titles in the past 13 seasons.
Hawaii Pacific's Flavia Gabinio, a junior hitter, was named Newcomer of the Year.
Hawaii dominated the all-conference choices. Rounding out the six-player first team were Juliana Lima and Vanessa Valansi of BYUH and Debbie Sant'Anna, Hai Yan Wang and Gabinio of HPU.
PWC PACIFIC DIVISION
First Team
Player School Pos Cl. Arlete Silva BYUH MB Sr. Vanessa Valansi BYUH OH Jr. Juliana Lima BYUH S Sr. Debbie Sant’Anna HPU OH Sr. Hai Yan Wang HPU MB Sr. Flavia Gabinio HPU OH Jr.Second Team
Sabrina Bingham Anchorage MB Sr. Kristen Sullivan Fairbanks OH Sr. Kamilah Webb Fairbanks S Sr. Joan Lilio Chaminade OH Sr. Nia Tuitele HPU S So. Veronica Mitchell W.N.Mexico MB Sr. Heather Komernicky W.N.Mexico S Sr.Player of the Year: Arlete Silva, BYUHCoach of the Year: Wilfred Navalta, BYUH
Newcomer of the Year: Flavia Gabinio, HPU
http://www.hpu.edu
http://www.byuh.edu
