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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, December 11, 2008

All-West volleyball honors for 'Bows

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Amber Kaufman

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University of Hawai'i senior Jamie Houston, junior Aneli Cubi-Otineru and sophomore Dani Mafua were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-West Region team yesterday, making them eligible for All-America teams to be announced next week.

Kamehameha graduate Kanani Danielson is the region's Freshman of the Year and earned a place among the West Region honorable mention along with Rainbow Wahine teammate Amber Kaufman. Danielson, who ranked among the top 10 in Western Athletic Conference hitting (.293), kills (2.94) and digs (2.96), joins Kanoe Kamana'o (2003) as the only region freshman of the year in school history.

This is Houston's third all-region honor. She was a third-team All-American as a sophomore. The two-time WAC Player of the Year is averaging 4.06 kills a set, which ranks 32nd nationally.

Cubi-Otineru, a Punahou graduate, might be Hawai'i's most versatile player. She shares passing duties with Danielson and Tara Hittle, is averaging 2.44 kills and 2.24 digs and hitting .281, with 0.35 aces. That ranks second in the WAC to Kaufman, whose 0.50 aces is 13th nationally. Kaufman is also 21st nationally in hitting at .383 and is averaging a little more than 2 kills and a little less than a block each set.

In her first year as a starter, Mafua is 20th nationally with 11.23 assists per set. The Rainbows rank fifth nationally in hitting (.292) and assists (13.77) and are sixth in kills (14.72).

New Mexico State libero Krystal Torres is also on the West team, with teammates Amber Simpson and Lindsey Yon honorable mention. UC Irvine sophomore Kari Pestolesi, daughter of former Hawai'i All-Americans Tom and Diane (Sebastian) Pestolesi, is honorable mention.

Kalani graduate Tamari Miyashiro, a junior libero at Washington, is again on the Pacific Region team. Moanalua graduate Lena Yee, a senior libero at St. John's, was honored in the Mideast Region.

Purdue senior Stephanie Lynch, whose team plays Hawai'i tomorrow in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship's Fort Collins, Colo., regional, earned her third all-region honor in the Mideast. The 14 players on that team include six from defending NCAA champion Penn State, which has not lost a set this year.

The 112 all-region players from eight areas will be considered for All-America status this weekend, with those teams announced Wednesday during the final four in Omaha, Neb.

WEST REGION

**Kylie Atherstone, Cal Poly, RS/Opp., Sr.

Lori Baird, Utah, MB, Sr.

**Mekana Barnes, Colorado State, MB, Sr.

Anell Cubi-Otineru, Hawai'i, OH, Jr.

Jeannie Fairchild, New Mexico, OH, Sr.

**Ashley Fornstrom, Colorado State, S, Sr.

**Jaclyn Houston, Cal Poly, MB, Sr.

***Jamie Houston, Hawai'i, OH, Jr.

Lauren Kellerman, UC Irvine, OH, Sr.

Dani Mafua, Hawai'i, S, So.

Brittany Moore, Calif State Fullerton, OH, Sr.

*Emillie Toone, Utah, MB, Sr.

Krystal Torres, New Mexico State, DS/Lib., Sr.

Naomi Washington, Long Beach State, MB, Jr.

Region Freshman of the Year: Kanani Danielson, Hawai'i, OH

Honorable Mention: Camille Cunningham (UNLV, DS/Lib., Sr.); Kanani Danielson (Hawai'i, OH, Fr.); Amber Kaufman (Hawai'i, MB, Jr.); Kari Pestolesi (UC Irvine, OH, So.); Taryn Robertson (UC Irvine, S, Jr.); Amber Simpson (New Mexico State, MB, Sr.); Dana Vargas (Long Beach State, S, Sr.); Lindsey Yon (New Mexico State, OH, Sr.)

ALSO: Tamari Miyashiro** (Kalani High), University of Washington, Jr., DS/Libero was named to the All-Pacific Team; Lena Yee* (Moanalua High), St. John's University, Sr., DS/Libero, was named to the All-Northeast Team.

* Denotes total number of years selected to AVCA Division I All-Region Team