Cubi-Otineru wins WAC award

Senior outside hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru earned her first conference weekly volleyball honor yesterday with her selection by the Western Athletic Conference.

Cubi-Otineru had a combined 18 kills, 20 digs, five blocks and three service aces in back-to-back sweeps of No. 25 Pepperdine last week. She was one kill shy of a double-double, finishing with nine kills and 12 digs in Saturday's victory.

The Rainbow Wahine (9-2), winning their last five matches in straight sets, remained at No. 4 in yesterday's AVCA Coaches Top 25. There was no movement among the top five, with Penn State (12-0) staying at No. 1, followed by Texas (7-0) and Washington (10-0). Florida (6-1) is No. 5.

Hawaii opens defense of its WAC regular season co-championship Thursday against Boise State at the Stan Sheriff Center.

PACWEST PLACE

HPU soccer teams beat BYUH

Hawaii Pacific defeated Brigham Young-Hawaii in men's and women's soccer yesterday.

The Sea Warriors won the men's game 4-0, and the HPU women won 2-1.

Amber Fuller scored the winning goal for the HPU women off a Lauren Avenue corner kick.

Chance Bukoski led the Sea Warriors men's team with three goals.

Honors for Brown, Horochuk

The PacWest announced its athletes of the week in two sports yesterday.

Hawaii Pacific's Quinn Horochuk, the first PacWest finisher at the UH Big Wave Invitational meet, was picked as the women's cross country runner of the week. She placed third overall at the UH event.

Hawaii-Hilo goalkeeper Shanna Brown was named the women's soccer player of the week after leading the Vulcans to two shutout wins last week.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Smith named coach at Punahou

Former University of Hawaii guard Alika Smith is the new boys basketball coach at Punahou.

Smith, who coached at Academy of the Pacific last year, steps in after Dan Hale resigned a month ago. Hale left to move with his family to Virginia.

Smith, who played his prep ball at Kalaheo, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

AOP athletic director Ryan Hogue wasn't surprised.

“;Alika's got one of the best basketball minds in the state at any level,”; Hogue said. “;He knows the game and he's been exposed to so many different schemes and strategies. He's phenomenal.”;

Punahou won the state title under Hale two years ago and reached the state quarterfinals last season.