Hawaii puts 5 players
on WAC preseason
volleyball team

Reigning conference player of
the year Kanoe Kamana’o leads
the Rainbow Wahine group

After dominating the postseason conference awards in 2004, it was no surprise that the Hawaii women's volleyball team -- returning all of its starters -- would dominate when it came to 2005 preseason Western Athletic Conference selections.

Yesterday, nine-time defending WAC champion Hawaii placed five players on the 12-member team, led by Player of the Year pick junior All-American setter Kanoe Kamana'o. Kamana'o, the national Freshman of the Year in 2003, was the WAC Player of the Year last season.

Also selected by vote of the nine WAC coaches were Rainbow Wahine senior All-American middle Victoria Prince -- last year's WAC Tournament MVP -- senior hitter Susie Boogaard, junior hitter Alicia Arnott and sophomore hitter Tara Hittle. Kamana'o, Prince and Arnott were all first-team all-WAC picks last year, while Boogaard was on the second team and Hittle was the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2004.

Senior libero Ashley Watanabe, a second-team all-WAC selection last season, was not on the preseason team.

"It's a good start to our season," said Hawaii assistant coach Kari Anderson Ambrozich. "It's a nice honor for our players but we don't put that much emphasis on it. It's a measuring stick, something that I hope gets our players motivated.

"It means we have something to prove."

Nevada and WAC newcomer New Mexico State both had two players honored.

Selected from the Wolf Pack were senior middle Salaia Salave'a and sophomore middle Karly Sipherd. Named from the Aggies were junior setter Jackie Choi, last season's Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, and junior middle Alice Borden.

Rounding out the team were Boise State junior middle Cameron Flunder, San Jose State libero Jessie Shull and opposite/setter Zuzana Cernianska of Utah State.

Hawaii was the overwhelming choice to win its 10th consecutive WAC title in the coaches poll announced earlier this month. The Rainbow Wahine, coming off a 30-1 season, open play against Nebraska Aug. 26 at the AVCA/NACWAA Showcase in Omaha, Neb.