National honors for 2 Wahine

Senior middle Victoria Prince makes the AVCA second team, while setter Kanoe Kamana'o is on the third team

There was only one reason that Kanoe Kamana'o wanted to be in San Antonio this week. That was to be with her Hawaii volleyball teammates, competing in the final four at the Alamodome.

When that didn't happen, the Rainbow Wahine's junior setter had tentative plans to attend tomorrow's AVCA All-America banquet at the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. But because only first- and second-team selections are asked to give acceptance speeches, Kamana'o -- a third-team choice -- opted to stay in Hawaii to attend the wedding of her boyfriend's brother this weekend.

"I would have been very happy to go and represent the university," said Hawaii's career assist leader, a first-team choice last season. "But only those on the first and second teams have to give a speech so ... it worked out that I could stay home for the wedding."

Attending tomorrow's banquet, however, will be Rainbow Wahine senior middle Victoria Prince, who was named to the second team for the second consecutive season. Prince, the two-time Western Athletic Conference tournament MVP, led Hawaii in kills (3.26 kpg), hitting percentage (.402), aces (42) and blocks (1.56 bpg). The transfer from Washington State was also one of two middles ranked nationally in the top 20 in kill percentage and blocks.

Kamana'o was the only setter in the country to average more than 13.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 2.6 digs per game. She finished in the top 15 nationally in assists (13.85).

Hawaii finished at 27-7, its most losses since 1997, when the Wahine were 25-8. That was also the last year that UH did not have a player named to the first team.

"I thought Victoria deserved more than second team," said Kamana'o, who broke the UH career assist mark this season and also repeated as the WAC Player of the Year. "She had a great season. But this was quite the year of unexpectedness."

Few expected Tennessee and Santa Clara to be in today's national semifinals, the first final-four appearances for both programs. The Lady Vols face Washington, while the Broncos take on Nebraska.

"I think it's great to see those teams in there for the first time," Kamana'o said. "I'd like one of the underdogs to take it. It's going to be a great final four."

Kamana'o said she was not disappointed over dropping down from the first to the third team.

"There were a lot of great setters out there, a lot of great players," she said. "And I'd much rather have my team playing this week."

The selections of Kamana'o and Prince give the Hawaii program 42 All-America certificates (22 players honored) in the 25-year history of AVCA sponsorship. This was the third All-America selection for Kamana'o, the 2003 Freshman of the Year and third-team pick.

Kamana'o was one of five players named to the All-America teams the past three seasons. Also earning their third honors were Penn State senior setter Sam Tortorello, Nebraska senior middle Melissa Elmer and Arizona senior hitter Kim Glass -- all on the first team -- and USC senior hitter Bibiana Candelas on the second team.

The WAC had three players named honorable mention: Utah State senior hitter Zuzana Cernianska, Nevada senior middle Salaia Salave'a and New Mexico State sophomore hitter Kim Oguh.

2005 AVCA Division I All-America teams Freshman of the Year: Nicole Fawcett, Penn State. Player of the Year: Announced tomorrow Coach of the Year: Announced today FIRST TEAM Jane Collymore, Sr., OH, Florida; Melissa Elmer, Sr., S, Nebraska; Kim Glass, Sr. OH, Arizona; Christina Houghtelling, Jr., RS/OP, Nebraska; Lindsey Hunter, Sr. S, Missouri; Laura Jones, Sr., OH, Texas A&M; Sarah Pavan, So., RS/OP, Nebraska; Cassie Perret, Sr. RS/OP, Santa Clara; Kristin Richards, Jr., OH, Stanford; Courtney Thompson, Jr. S, Washington; Sanja Tomasevic, Sr., OH, Washington; Sam Tortorello, Sr., S, Penn State. SECOND TEAM Foluke Akinradewo, Fr., MB, Stanford; Kristen Andre, Sr., MB, Tennessee; Leticia Armstrong, So., MB, Texas; Lauren Brewster, Sr., MB, Notre Dame; Bibiana Candelas, Sr., OH, USC; Nicole Fawcett, Fr., OH, Penn State; Jennifer Hoffman, Sr., MB, Louisville; Candace Lee, Sr., L/DS, Washington; Marisa Main, Jr., S., Ohio State; Victoria Prince, Sr., MB, Hawaii; Lena Ustymenko, Sr., OH, Louisville; Melissa Walbridge, So., MB, Penn State. THIRD TEAM Jennifer Abernathy, Sr., OH, Arizona; Anna Cmaylo, MB, So., Santa Clara; Kanoe Kamana'o, Jr., S, Hawaii; Bryn Kehoe, So., S, Stanford; Brandy Magee, Jr., MB, Santa Clara; Angie McGinnis, So., S, Florida; Danielle Meyer, So., MB, Ohio State; Christal Morrison, So., OH, Washington; Jennifer Saleaumua, Sr., OH, Nebraska; Sheila Shaw, Sr., MB, Wisconsin.