University of Hawai'i sophomore outside hitter Kanani Danielson was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I All-America first-team for women's volleyball yesterday.

The awards will be presented tomorrow at the AVCA All-America/Players of the Year Banquet at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla.

Another UH player, Aneli Cubi-Otineru, was named to the third team, while teammates Amber Kaufman and Dani Mafua were honorable mention.

Former Kalani star Tamari Miyashiro of Washington was named to the second team.

Danielson, a 5-foot-10 Kamehameha Schools alum, was one of the country's best in hitting percentage, kills and points per set. She averaged 4.25 kills per set, hit .327 this year — 41 points higher than last year — and was named Most Outstanding Player at the Stanford Regional last week.

"She is so explosive. She just jumps faster and higher than you think and she's got a lightning arm swing," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "If you watch the SC match, they were not ready for the pace of the ball. They couldn't dig it. The block never got over on her because she was past them before they pressed over. Everything about her is faster and quicker than you think it will be."

Another player with an up-close view was teammate Stephanie Brandt.

"Kanani is just dynamic, she can do everything," Brandt said. "When she's on she gets blocks and kills, passes perfectly, does everything she just has so much potential for greatness it's ridiculous."

Said Utah State coach Grayson DuBose: "Obviously Kanani is a large part of what they do offensively. UH relies on her ability to hit with range and power and she is the person they go to when they need a sideout. I feel that way about both her and Aneli. They are just good at playing volleyball."

Cubi-Otineru, a 5-11 senior and Punahou alum, is the second player in school history (after Olympian Teee Williams) to get 1,000 kills in three years. She was named All-WAC first team all three years.