Fialkowski, a 2000 Maryknoll High grad, has lived all her life "way in the back" of Waiahole Valley, where "we just got pavement." But the last four years she has spent more of the time in Hanover, N.H., mostly studying (biology major, Native American Studies and sociology minors), and also playing NCAA Division I volleyball.

She recently was named an All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete by the National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.

"Kai embodies this award," said Dartmouth strength coach Bob Miller.

Fialkowski missed most of the 2001 season after she injured cartilage in her right (swinging) shoulder.

"Her determination to get back her position as an outside hitter for the 2002 season was undeterred," Miller wrote in her All-America nomination. "She committed fully and intensely to her strength training and volleyball conditioning.

"Kai's work ethic, whether in the weight room, on the track, in the training room, or on the volleyball court is unequivocal."

Fialkowski won back her starting assignment and set a school record of 39 digs in a match against Princeton. "Everything was feeling right, one of those perfect nights," she said.

She has been elected a co-captain for her senior season in the fall, her third as a starter.

Fialkowski, 5 feet 9 and 163 pounds, has these personal bests in the weight room: bench press 130, squat 240, tin-ups 14, Olympic hang-clean lift 140.

MORE VOLLEYBALL

• Orange Coast (Calif.) JC

Four starters from Hawai'i helped the Pirates from Costa Mesa plunder the California Community College tournament for a third-place medal with a 17-7 record.

Freshman Poyer Poia, a 1999 Farrington High alumnus playing intercollegiate volleyball for the first time, was chosen on the state all-tournament team, and was the team Most Valuable Player and first-team All-Orange Empire Conference as an outside hitter.

Poia averaged 4.61 kills per game with a .352 attacking percentage. He averaged 2.6 digs per game.

Also starting were 6-foot-4 sophomore Paul Pomeroy (Kaua'i '01 of Kalapaki) on the right side, freshman outside hitter Kaimana Kamalani (Kamehameha '02) and sophomore libero Kaione Scott (Punahou '01).

Kamalani, who hit .274 and averaged 2.7 kills per game, and Scott, the team's primary passer, were second-team all conference. Pomeroy will attend La Verne (Calif.) in the fall and Scott plans to walk on at UCLA, said Orange Coast men's and women's coach Chuck Cutenese.

Freshman Doug Lewis of Wailua, Kaua'i, was a reserve opposite the setter.

Poia was brought to Orange Coast by alumnus Masui Allen, Castle High grad and 1994 University of Hawai'i honorable-mention All-American, who works with disabled teenagers in Southern California.

Cutenese thinks the similar climate and proximity to the beach of the campus makes student-athletes from Hawai'i feel comfortable at Orange Coast. He said that Nanea Holmes (La Pietra '02) was unhappy at Alabama-Birmingham and might transfer to Orange Coast, where her mother played.

• Trinity Christian (Illinois)

Sophomore Kyle Webb (Lutheran '00 of Hawai'i Kai), a transfer from University of Hawai'i, played in all 32 matches, rotating at various positions and often filling in for injured players. He had 89.3 percent reception accuracy and an 85.9 serving percentage.