Warriors are All-Americans
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i volleyball team's best offensive and defensive players — outside hitter Pedro Azenha and libero Alfred "Alfee" Reft — yesterday were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-America first team.
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Azenha, who is 6 feet 7, had 4.50 kills per game and was third nationally in aces with a 0.51 average.
Senior outside hitter Pedro Azenha averaged 4.5 kills a game.
He had double figures in kills in 27 of the Warrior' 28 matches.
"It feels good," Azenha said. "I think I worked hard for it. It feels good to be recognized, but I wish the team did better."
This week, Azenha signed a contract to play professionally for Bayamon in Puerto Rico's summer league. After that, Azenha, who completed his NCAA eligibility last month, said "I'm coming back to finish work on my journalism degree."
Reft, a 5-foot-10 junior, averaged 2.67 digs per game, and consistently delivered accurate passes to start UH's offense.
"I was more than surprised," Reft said of the honor. "I was in shock. I didn't expect it at all.
This is definitely off the charts. It's very surreal to me, but I'm very grateful."
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Accepting the honor at last night's banquet in Los Angeles, which was arranged in conjunction with the NCAA final four, was "a very bittersweet experience," Reft said. "I'm here now with the coaches in the final four. I feel we should be here, but we're not. I would trade everything for a chance for us to play in the final four."
Junior libero Alfred Reft averaged 2.67 digs per game.
As the Warriors' shortest starter, Reft said, "It shows that with a little hard work and dedication, you can accomplish a lot, whether it's All-American or something else. It's nice to be acknowledged for the work and the time, but at the same time, this is a team award. I feel any accolades should go to all of the guys on the team. Without them, and the coaches, none of this is possible."
Also named to the first team were setter Kevin Hansen of Stanford, middle blocker Andy Hein and outside hitter Sean Rooney of Pepperdine, setter Tyler Hildebrand and outside hitter Robert Tarr of Long Beach State, middle blocker Paul Johnson of UCLA, middle blocker Nate Meerstein of Penn State, and opposite hitter Evan Patak of UC Santa Barbara.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
