DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kanoe Kamana'o, center, was named the national Freshman of the Year yesterday, the first Rainbow Wahine player to earn that award.
Kamana‘o is
freshman of yearUH's Willoughby named
to All-America first team
DALLAS >> There's not much that fazes Kanoe Kamana'o.
Tell her she's going to start as a true freshman for the second-ranked women's volleyball team in the country and it's "Oh. OK." Then Kamana'o proceeds to help Hawaii ride a 35-match win streak into its third final-four appearance in four years.
Tell her that her two senior All-America left-side hitters are her first options to go to BUT she needs to involve the middles and the right-side hitters and it's "Oh. OK." Then the setter proceeds to do all that, especially the right-side attack, where senior Nohea Tano has become a real threat.
And tell her that, in the storied history of Hawaii women's volleyball, she is the first Rainbow Wahine to be named national Freshman of the Year and ... Kamana'o paused to think about. Six months out of high school, this was the last thing she expected, but she accepted the news just as she has her pressure-packed role.
It was "Oh. OK. Wow" after the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America list was announced yesterday. In addition to being named the top freshman nationally, Kamana'o was selected as a third-team All-American, the only freshman out of 36 players chosen.
Kamana'o's father was a little more expressive.
"Hoooo, girlie, I get goosebumps already," Dal Kamana'o told his daughter after Hawaii's practice yesterday at Reunion Arena. "She deserves it, but I was surprised."
Wahine coach Dave Shoji was, too. A little.
"There were other freshmen setters who had better numbers, but I don't know of another one who played at the level that she played," said Shoji. "I can't think of any of our great setters coming in and making this kind of impact. Most of our (past) setters had a little transition into the job. Even (All-American) Robyn Ah Mow was part-time as a freshman.
"Kanoe's just been thrown in there and has done a great job. Subtly she's gotten better over the season. Her decisions have gotten better and she's made some really good decisions lately. I can't say enough about her. I don't know if she's oblivious because she's so young but she doesn't seem to be affected by any kind of pressure."
Yesterday, there was one question that surpassed even that of "Who Shot J.R.?" on the old television show "Dallas."
How did senior Lily Kahumoku drop from being a two-time first-team All-American to second-team status? Shoji ventured a subdued guess.
"I guess the committee went based on statistics," Shoji said. "I don't understand it. Lily has had a great year, her game is better than it's ever been, but this is what happens when you leave it in the hands of the committee. They don't get a picture of a player's true worth."
"It would be really nice to win a national championship and prove them all wrong," said senior middle Lauren Duggins, a third-team pick last year who didn't even make honorable mention yesterday. "Everyone who counts knows she's a great player."
However, there was no disputing a third consecutive first-team selection for senior Kim Willoughby. The outside hitter, the leading candidate for AVCA Player of the Year, is the UH career leader in kills, digs and aces, and is second nationally this year in kills per game (6.65 kpg).
Also in the running for the top honors are two other three-time All-Americans competing today: Florida senior hitter Aury Cruz and April Ross, a senior hitter for Southern California.
The AVCA Player of the Year will be announced tomorrow at the All-America luncheon. If Willoughby is selected, she would join Teee Williams (1987, 1989) and Angelica Ljungquist (1996) as Wahine who have been named the AVCA's top player.
"Looking at Kim being an All-American, her being such a great player, I couldn't see myself right there with her," said Kamana'o. "And being named right up there with her ... I'm in awe.
"I don't think of (Freshman of the Year) as an individual award as much as my team helping me to achieve this. I couldn't have done it without my teammates helping me out."
Besides Ross, USC had two other players named to the All-America first team -- junior middle Emily Adams and sophomore Bibiana Candelas. Junior hitter Keao Burdine was named to the second team.
Florida had two players on the second team -- junior middle Sherri Williams and senior middle Benavia Jenkins -- with sophomore hitter Jane Collymore an honorable mention. Jenkins hasn't played a match for the Gators since Oct. 26, when she tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in her right knee.
Minnesota, the other final-four participant, had two players honored yesterday. Named to the first team was senior opposite Cassie Busse, while sophomore libero Paula Gentil made the second team.
Twelve players were on each of the first three teams. For the first time, the AVCA had an honorable mention list. The inaugural selection included Fresno State junior hitter Kristen Fenton, the only other WAC player honored yesterday.
The selection committee is comprised of coaches Pi'i Aiu (Colorado), John Dunning (Stanford), Burt Fuller (Utah State), Judy Green (Alabama), Jill Hirschinger (New Hampshire), Nancy Mueller (South Florida) and Pete Waite (Wisconsin). The chair is Janice Kruger (Maryland).
AVCA All-America team
Player School Pos. Ht. Cl. Emily Adams USC MB 6-6 Jr. Cassie Busse Minnesota RS 6-2 Sr. Bibiana Candelas USC MB 6-5 So. Aury Cruz Florida OH 5-11 Sr. Kele Eveland Georgia IT S 5-11 Sr. Lauren Goehring Kansas State MB 6-0 Sr. Jennifer Joines University of Pacific MB 6-3 Sr. Ogonna Nnamani Stanford OH 6-1 Jr. April Ross USC OH 6-2 Sr. Cara Smith Penn State MB 6-1 Sr. Katie Wilkins Pepperdine OH 6-4 Sr. Kim Willoughby Hawaii OH 6-0 Sr.
