Teammate Kim Willoughby is on the first team for the third consecutive year. Lily Kahumoku was put on the second team after earning first-team honors her last two seasons.

Kamana'o, a 5-foot-8 setter, is the only non-senior starter for the second-ranked Rainbow Wahine, who play in an NCAA Championship semifinal tonight against third-ranked Florida. In Hawai'i’s regional final victory over Georgia Tech Saturday, she set a school rally-scoring record with 71 assists in four games.

She was Hawai'i State High School Player of the Year after leading Iolani to the state title as a junior. In her first semester of college, her gifted hands have lifted Hawai'i to No. 2 nationally in kills (18.18) and assists (16.83). Kamana'o is already eighth in career assists at UH.

"There's no ego in her game and she has no agenda other than winning," UH coach Dave Shoji says. "Based on what I've seen her do for our team, I can't imagine any freshman having a better year.

"We were as good as last year at that position and some people might think we're a little better than we were at this time last year with two seniors (setting). Certainly, Kanoe stepped into a tough situation and performed above anyone's expectations. I had a feeling she'd play like this for us. She's done everything she could."

His joy at Kamana'o's recognition was tempered by Kahumoku's demotion. The senior hitter out of Kamehameha Schools is averaging 4.49 kills and a team-high 3.47 digs a game. Kahumoku, a second-team Academic All-American as well, is also a primary passer with Willoughby.

Are there 11 other players in the country Shoji would rather have?

"Absolutely not," Shoji said flatly. "Her numbers might not add up as high as some other people, but the work she does for our team is huge and Lily is a better player now than she was last year or the year before that. The committee can't see that from her numbers. She's certainly done more for our defense. If she's on any other team she gets more sets, but she never worries about her sets."

Any team other than one with Willoughby, to be more specific. Hawai'i's senior hitter from Napoleonville, La., earned her third consecutive first-team honor. She has been among the top three hitters in the nation all three years and is averaging 6.65 kills a game as a senior. More startling is her .385 hitting percentage, an abnormally high number for an outside hitter and 40 points above last season.

The national Player of the Year will be announced Friday. Shoji has no doubt it should be Willoughby.

"April Ross (USC) has a shot and Aury Cruz (Florida) has a shot," Shoji said. "Again, it's something that doesn't show up in the statistics, but I think Kim is the best all-around player of the three. ... I can't imagine anybody better than Kim."

First Team — Emily Adams (USC Jr. MB), Cassie Busse (Minnesota Sr. RS), Bibiana Candelas (USC So. MB), Aury Cruz (Florida Sr. OH), Kele Eveland (Georgia Tech Sr. S), Lauren Goehring (Kansas State Sr. MB), Jennifer Joines (Pacific Sr. MB), Ogonna Nnamani (Stanford Jr. OH), April Ross (USC Sr. OH), Cara Smith (Penn State Sr. MB), Katie Wilkins (Pepperdine Sr. OH), Kim Willoughby (Hawai'i Sr. OH).

Second Team — Keao Burdine (USC Jr. OH), Melissa Elmer (Nebraska 6-2 So.), Paula Gentil (Minnesota So. L), Stacey Gordon (Ohio State Jr. OH), Jennifer Harvey (Stanford Sr. MB), Benavia Jenkins (Florida Sr. MB), Mia Jerkov (Cal Jr. OH), Lily Kahumoku (Hawai'i Sr. OH), Melissa Munsch (Texas A&M Jr. MB), Sanja Tomasevic (Washington Jr. OH), Sam Tortorello (Penn State So. S), Sherri Williams (Florida Jr. MB).

Third Team — Lisa Argabright (Illinois Sr. MB), Julie DuPont (Cincinnati Jr. OH), Jennifer Fopma (Cal-State Northridge Sr. MB), Kim Glass (Arizona So. OH), Wendy Hatlestad (Pittsburgh Sr. OH), Kanoe Kamana'o (Hawai'i Fr. S), Erin Moore (Michigan Sr. MB), Lynnette Moster (Georgia Tech Jr. OH), Becky Potter (Santa Clara Sr. MB), Kim Turner (Utah Sr. MB), Linette White (Southwest Missouri St. Sr. MB), Kelly Wing (UC-Irvine Jr. OH).

Freshman of the Year — Kanoe Kamana'o (Hawai'i)