RUSTON, La. — Five University of Hawai'i players earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors yesterday, including three on the first team.

Shortstop Jon Hee, center fielder Brandon Haislet and pitcher Jared Alexander earned first-team honors, while catcher Landon Hernandez and Greg Garcia were selected to the second team. The all-conference teams were announced last night at the pre-tournament banquet at the Thomas Assembly Center.

For UH, seeded second in the tournament, it was an improvement from last year, when five players got second-team honors. Hee and Haislet were second-team selections last season.

"It's good to see not only the Hawai'i fans got to see (how well the UH players played), but the other coaches recognized how we did," Hee said.

Regular-season champion Fresno State swept all the major awards. Outfielder Steve Susdorf was the Player of the Year, Tanner Scheppers was the Pitcher of the Year and infielder Danny Muno was the Freshman of the Year.

Fresno State's Mike Batesole and San Jose State's Sam Piraro shared Coach of the Year honors.

Hee, who was a second-team selection at second base as a sophomore and junior, switched to shortstop earlier in the season. Although shortstop is considered to be more difficult to play than second base, Hee made a seamless transition and finished with a .976 fielding percentage in WAC games. Hee, who batted .368 overall, hit .396 with two homers (in the same game at New Mexico State) and 15 RBIs in conference games.

"It's definitely a great honor," Hee said. "There's some great shortstops in the WAC."

Haislet, who hit .371 overall, batted .427 with three home runs and 33 RBIs in WAC play. He played a flawless center field, handling 86 putouts and three assists without an error in 32 WAC games. He said all of his teammates worked just as hard, "but just didn't get this opportunity.

"Hopefully, me, Jon and Alexander can all keep it up (in the tournament)."

Alexander was the starting pitcher in seven of Hawai'i's eight WAC series, finishing 5-1 with a 3.99 earned run average. A sore elbow forced an early exit against Sacramento State and made him skip his start against New Mexico State.

"It happens," Alexander said of his late-season injury. "But it's part of the game."

Whether he pitches in the tournament is still a day-to-day decision. He will have to be able to throw pain-free before he takes the mound in a game, he said.

"That's what me and Trap (UH coach Mike Trapasso) decided on," Alexander said.

Hernandez and Garcia came on strong in the second half of the season, both posting better statistics in conference play.

Hernandez hit .254 overall, but .301 with two home runs and 23 RBIs in the WAC. New Mexico State's Joe Leghorn was the first-team pick.

Garcia hit .312 overall, but .370 in the WAC, with 4-of-4 base stealing. Fresno State junior Erik Wetzel was the first-team pick for the third consecutive year.

The all-conference recipients received plaques.

But it's time to pack the hardware and start swinging the aluminum against New Mexico State in today's tournament opener. Game time is 10 a.m., HST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1420 AM.

"I'm excited just to get out there, especially after last weekend (losing 2 of 3 to Utah Valley)," Hee said. "This week is the most important thing right now, to win the WAC championship."

The Rainbows are staying at the Hampton Inn, along with Nevada and San Jose State. The hotel's lobby was decorated with banners or pompoms of the teams.