Hawai'i's Kamana'o WAC Player of Week
Advertiser Staff
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Hawai'i setter Kanoe Kamana'o is the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week. It is the third time the senior has earned the award — twice this year — and it comes as she is poised to break the WAC record for career assists.
The 'Iolani graduate averaged 16.25 assists, 3.75 digs and 0.88 blocks in the Rainbow Wahine's conference victories over Idaho and San Jose State last weekend. Her 130 assists left her four short of the WAC record of 5,873, set by Colorado State's Analisa Saylor. Kamana'o, a three-time All-American, broke the UH career record as a junior.
Kamana'o also moved to fifth on the UH career digs list (1,125) over the weekend, and eighth in career blocks (374). She is the only player in UH history in the top 10 for assists, digs and blocks. Kamana'o is also seven aces short of the top 10.
Hawai'i (17-5, 9-1 WAC) leaves tonight for WAC matches at Nevada (14-9, 8-3) Thursday and Utah State (12-14, 5-7) Saturday. The Rainbow Wahine are tied for first with New Mexico State. Nevada is third.
After sweeping, Hawai'i dropped one spot in yesterday's CSTV/AVCA Top 25 poll, to No. 16. Stanford moved up to second after Penn State lost for the first time. NMSU remained 23rd.
The drop might be explained by the game the 'Bows lost against both Idaho and San Jose State, both in the top half of the WAC standings. Going four wasn't all bad, according to UH coach Dave Shoji.
"It was a good series for us," he said. "We struggled a little, but that's OK. It makes you better when you have to struggle and work hard to win. Those three-game blowouts ... they're nice but they're not challenging and they don't make you better. Having been tested at home makes us a better team."
In other volleyball news:
Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 225-2277 (from anywhere but California) or (916) 766-2277, or online at tickets.com. They are also available at Lawlor on weekdays and Saturday mornings.
A "WAC Volleyball Rate" of $35 (Nov. 22) and $89 (nightly Nov. 23 to 26) is available by calling Circus Circus Hotel, (800) 894-3588.
Ah Mow-Santos was named Best Setter at this year's Pan American Cup, her only tournament this season.
The Americans, ranked sixth in the world, are 9-8 this season when using their complete roster. They are in Pool C at Kobe, with Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Cameroon, second-ranked Brazil and Puerto Rico.
The U.S. has never won this event, but earned silver at the last World Championships (2002) and in 1966.
The men's World Championships start the following day. Kaiser High graduate Clay Stanley plays for the U.S. men, ranked fifth in the world. Their pool includes three-time world champion Italy (1990, '94, '98), which won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and is ranked No. 2 in the world.
