Photography by Rick Ogata/Special to Hawaii247.com

MEDIA RELEASE

Just a few days after being tabbed as the team to beat in the Pacific West Conference , the University of Hawaii at Hilo volleyball team knocked off a fired-up Alumni squad, 25-15, 25-17, 25-16 in the UHH gymnasium.

Pre-season Pac West Player of the Year Josimara Pinheiro led the Vulcans with 10 kills and 12 digs while fellow pre-season first-team all-PWC selection Fabiani Seben tallied 9 kills on 12 attempts with one error (.667).
Junior right-side hitter Kawena Cubi-Otineru carried the hot hammer with a 9 for 11 night at the net for a sizzling .818 hitting percentage.

“Kawena had an amazing night,” UHH head coach Bruce Atkinson said, “and fit right in to what we want to do.”

Junior transfer Katie Swenson was in charge of the offense playing each minute of the match. She tallied 38 assists and four block assists.

In the back row, the returning trio of Laura Rodriguez (6 digs), Shawna Kaiura (3 digs) and Lauren Tonokawa (3 digs) showed the depth and consistency within their area.

In the competition for the final spot in the starting rotation at right-side hitter, Leilani Ramsey was 6 of 9 with no errors (.667) and Briana Boyce was 1 of 6 with no errors (.167).

“They are really making it a tough competition for that spot,” Atkinson said.

The alumnae featured one of its youngest and deepest squad in recent years. Joining 2008 alumnus Mary Claire Bolo and Kelly Ann Chun were Lisa Pana, Wila Paiva, Dawn Mapes, Jeannine Williams, Edna Togiai, Eden Scanlan, Babes Spencer, Sweetie Osoria, Lyndell Lindsay, Carla Carpenter-Kabalis and Debbie Namohala-Rolos.

Togiai led the Alumni with 6 kills while Mapes had 5.