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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:57 a.m., Thursday, May 25, 2006

UH volleyball's Hakala receives first-team honor

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i volleyball player Lauri Hakala was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District VII Men's At-Large first team, the school announced Thursday.

The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) made the selections.

"Lauri Hakala is a true student-athlete," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "He's our poster player for academics."

Hakala's cumulative grade-point average (3.88) is nearly as high as his kills-per-game average (3.97). As a second-year junior, Hakala was the Warriors' starting opposite attacker.

Hakala is spending the summer in his hometown in Finland. He is scheduled to earn a bachelor's degree in May 2007, the end of his sixth semester at UH.

Four other members of the 2006 Warriors have cumulative GPAs of at least 3.0 — middle blocker Kyle Klinger (3.66), opposite attacker Johnny Matt Bender (3.28), outside hitter Eric Kalima (3.18) and libero Ernie Vidinha. Bender graduated two weeks ago.