Wednesday, December 15, 1999

Wahine Heather
Bown repeats as
All-American

The Hawaii middle led the
nation in blocking
all season

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

One coach didn't think she was collegiate material. Her first college coach didn't bother to nominate her for postseason honors.

Yesterday, Heather Bown earned the ultimate revenge when she was named a first-team All-American for the second straight year. The 6-foot-3 middle from the University of Hawaii, who led the country in blocking all season, was one of 24 players selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association for its Division I postseason honors.

Bown, who transfered from UC Santa Barbara after her sophomore season, is one of 17 Hawaii players to earn All-American status. Her repeat selection gives the Wahine 30 All-American certificates. Out of the 12 first-team selections will come the National Player of the Year.

Among the top candidates are three players competing for the national title here this week: Stanford senior opposite Kerri Walsh, Penn State senior middle Lauren Cacciamani and Pacific senior hitter Elsa Stegemann.

Walsh is the second-ever four-time first team pick. Stanford' Bev Oden is the other.

Cardinal teammate Logan Tom, the lone freshman selection, joined Walsh on the first team.

Penn State was the only other school with two first-team players with repeater selections Cacciamani and senior setter Bonnie Bremner. Other first-team repeaters were Nebraska's junior opposite Nancy Meendering and Stegemann.

Long Beach State, the other final four team here, was represented by sophomore middle Cheryl Weaver.

"I don't think you can argue against any of the top 12 players on the first team,'' said Hawaii coach Dave Shoji. "And no question Heather was one of the top players in the country. She led the country in blocking at a phenomenal pace. That alone separated her from anyone else.''

The only other Wahine under consideration for All-American was Lily Kahumoku, the District 7 Freshman of the Year. Only first-team all-district selections are eligible for All-American honors.

District 7, Hawaii's district, is one of the toughest and includes the WAC, Big West and Mountain West.

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AVCA WOMEN'S DIVISION I ALL-AMERICAN

First team

Name			School			Pos.	Ht.	Yr.
Erin Aldrich		Texas			MB	6-2	Sr.
Heather Bown		Hawaii			MB	6-3	Sr.
Bonnie Bremner		Penn State		S	5-9	Sr.
Lauren Cacciamani	Penn State		MB	6-2	Sr.
Roberta Gehlke		UC Santa Barbara	OH	5-10	Sr.
Nancy Meendering	Nebraska		OPP	6-1	Jr.
Elsa Stegemann		Pacific			OH	5-10	Sr.
Logan Tom		Stanford		OH	6-1	Fr.
Kerri Walsh		Stanford		OPP	6-2	Sr.
Cheryl Weaver		Long Beach St.		MB	6-2 	So.
Amber Woolsey		Texas A&M		MB	6-3	Sr.
Petia Yanchulova	San Diego		OH	5-10	Sr.

Second team

Name			School			Pos.	Ht.	Yr.
Nicole Branagh		Minnesota		OH	6-1	Jr.
Dawn Cady		Kansas State		OH	5-10	Sr.
Jamie Hill		Pepperdine		MB	6-4	Sr
Jenny Maastricht	Wisconsin		OPP	6-1	Jr.
Jenny Manz		Florida			OPP	6-0	Sr.
Sarah McFarland		Loyola Marymount	OH	6-6	Jr.
Shannon Perry		Northern Iowa		S	5-8	Sr.
Kristee Porter		UCLA			OH	5-11	So.
Nina Puikkonen		Brigham Young		MB	6-3	So.
Anna-Lena Smith		Brigham Young		S	5-11	Sr.
Cindy Stern		Clemson			MB	6-3	Sr.
Catie Vagneur		Colorado State		OH	5-9	Sr.

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