Thursday, December 2, 1999

BYUH’s
Silva four-time
All-American

She is joined on the team by
Juliana Lima, Vanessa Valansi
and HPU's Nia Tuitele

Star-Bulletin staff

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Brigham Young-Hawaii has nine national titles and 36 All-Americans. But, until yesterday, it had never had a four-time first-team All-American.

Senior hitter Arlete Silva changed all that when she was named to the 12-player team at the 19th annual NCAA Division II Women's National Championship banquet. The 6-foot middle blocker was joined by teammates Juliana Lima, a senior setter, and junior hitter Vanessa Valansi, as well as Hawaii Pacific's sophomore setter Nia Tuitele on the first team.

Senior hitter Debbie Sant'Anna of HPU was the only selection from Hawaii on the second team.

Sarah Butler, a senior outside hitter from West Texas A&M, repeated as Division II Player of the Year.

"No question that I think Arlete should have have been Player of the Year,'' said Seasider coach Wilfred Navalta. "Her numbers alone were enough, especially against the competition we played. But when you see that we were ranked No. 1 or 2 all season long, I think that count for something as well.''

Silva hit .438, averaging 4.36 kills and 1.51 blocks for the Seasiders (27-2). Butler hit .409 and was third with 5.89 kills per game for the Lady Buffs (35-1).

Silva earned NAIA All-America honors as a freshman and sophomore and NCAA D-II honors last year.

Last season, Tuitele led HPU to the NCAA D-II national title.

BYU-Hawaii opened play today in the Elite Eight, taking on North Dakota State (29-3) at noon HST.

1999 AVCA DIVISION II ALL-AMERICA

FIRST TEAM, Hawaii players

Player		School		Pos	Height	Year
Juliana Lima	BYU-Hawaii	S	5-7	Sr.
Arlete Silva	BYU-Hawaii	MB	6-0	Sr.
Nia Tuitele	Hawaii Pacific	S	5-9	So.
Vanessa Valansi	BYU-Hawaii	OH	5-9	Jr.

Second team: Debbie Sant'Anna, Hawaii Pacific , OH, 6-1, Sr.

Player of the Year: Sarah Butler, West Texas A&M

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