August 15, 2007

Seasiders Tabbed as PacWest Favorites

Honolulu, HI–The Brigham Young University Hawaii women’s volleyball team was given the frontrunner’s position in both team and individual honors in the Pacific West Conference according to the preseason coach’s poll released today. The Seasiders were picked to win the conference by six of the seven league coaches and Junior setter LeeAnn Mapu was given the nod as preseason Player of the Year for the conference.

The Seasiders went undefeated during the PacWest season last year, finishing in first place before suffering their only loss of the season in the NCAA II tournament. The team returns six players from last year, including three starters.

Mapu, a First-Team All-PacWest performer last season, was joined on the preseason All-Conference team by two of her Seasider teammates. Senior outside hitter Noelle Filimoeatu, also a First-Team selection last season, and Junior middle blocker Faylynn Merrick, who was Second-Team All-PacWest last year, were also named by the league’s coaches as players expected to excel this season.

Other players named to the preseason team were middle blocker Evelyn Bluthenthal and outside hitter Trina Kauliakamoa of Chaminade, outside hitter Dana Edington of Grand Canyon, and libero Shauna Folan of Notre Dame de Namur.

The predicted order of finish for teams in the preseason poll was BYU–Hawaii, Chaminade, Grand Canyon, Hawaii Pacific, Dixie State, UH-Hilo, and Notre Dame de Namur.