Posted on: Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Kamana'o selected All-American
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i sophomore Kanoe Kamana'o, last year's AVCA National Freshman of the Year, took her game to the next level this season. The Rainbow Wahine's only returning starter will be named to the AVCA's All-America first team today after setting UH to the country's best record (30-1) and into the NCAA regionals.
Advertiser Library photo • Nov. 19, 2004 All-America teams are selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I committee and announced at the AVCA's annual convention. It is run in conjunction with the final four, which opens tomorrow, in Long Beach, Calif., with Stanford taking on Washington and Minnesota playing two-time defending champion Southern California.
Kamana'o was a third-team All-American last season as a freshman starter on a senior-dominated final-four team. This year, the Iolani graduate and Prince were the only Rainbows with Division-I starting experience. Still, Hawai'i won its first 30 matches and rose to the No. 1 ranking.
After UH lost to Wisconsin Friday at the Green Bay regional, coach Dave Shoji said he felt Kamana'o should be seriously considered for national Player of the Year.
"She was our Player of the Year for sure and we had a pretty good year," said Shoji, who is up for AVCA national Coach of the Year after earning West Region honors. "If it was like the Heisman and they invited five players, she'd be one of them.
Kamana'o is 12th nationally in assists per game (13.62 per game), but that was only her most obvious virtue. She is an often spectacular defender and, at 5 foot 7, the WAC Player of the Year was probably the best blocker per inch in the country. She finished seventh in the conference in blocking (1.14) and helped the Rainbow Wahine rise to No. 3 nationally (3.37).
Prince was a primary part of the Hawai'i roof as well, at 12th nationally in blocking (1.63). She is also sixth in hitting (.411) after going on an outrageous .653 tear at the WAC Tournament, where she was MVP.
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
Teammate Victoria Prince, a junior transfer from Washington State, earned a place on the second team. All three All-America teams will be officially announced this morning. Kamana'o flies out tonight to collect her award at Friday's All-American/Player of the Year banquet.
Behind setter Kanoe Kamana'o, Hawai'i won its first 30 matches and rose to the No. 1 ranking in the nation.
"If you look at where she took this team with no starters back from last year, that in itself is worth consideration. Then, if you want to get real technical, you can just look at what the opportunities for our hitters were from anywhere on the court. She made something out of just about every single pass — someone had a swing at it. Not many setters can do that."
