WSU’s Molina out for year with knee injury

Washington State freshman Chanelle Molina will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL suffered in Friday’s 68-49 loss to No. 18 Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz.

The Konawaena alumna was injured in the second half after another freshman from Hawaii, Cameron Fernandez, suffered a scary head injury in the first half.

“Friday the 13th was absolutely the horriblest, worst day of our lives, I think,” Washington State coach June Daugherty said during a press conference on Tuesday.

Molina started the first 17 games of the season for the Cougars, averaging 12.8 points on 51.5 percent shooting. She was named the Pac-12 freshman of the week two times in a row to start 2017 after helping the Cougars beat Oregon, UCLA and USC in consecutive games.

Molina hurt her left knee drawing a foul in the key.

Fernandez, a Lahainaluna alumna, was averaging 4.7 points in 10.8 minutes in nine games off the bench.

Fernandez hit her head on the court after drawing a charge and was treated by emergency personnel before being taken out of the arena on a stretcher. She spent the night in a local hospital and is back resting in Pullman, Wash., after suffering a concussion.

“Fortunately she is doing well,” Daugherty said. “We wish her the best with that. It’s something that is day-to-day with her.”

‘Iolani’s Oglivie wins Gatorade honor

‘Iolani freshman Elena Oglivie was named the 2016-17 Gatorade Hawaii girls volleyball player of the year on Tuesday.

The award recognizes athletic and scholastic achievement, as well as “exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.” The 5-foot-10 outside hitter led ‘Iolani to its first state title since 2001 and was a MaxPreps Freshman All-American. She finished in the top three for national freshman of the year honors.

“She did the most for her team at the most crucial moments of their season,” said Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting in a release. “I don’t know if they would have been able to win the state championship if she wasn’t playing as well as she did.”

Other recent Gatorade Hawaii Volleyball Players of the Year are Bailey Choy (2015-16, ‘Iolani), McKenna Granato (2014-15, Punahou), Alohi Robins-Hardy (2013-14, Kamehameha), Carly Kan (2012-13, Punahou), Tayler Higgins (2011-12, Punahou), Misty Ma’a (2010-11, Kamehameha), Sarah Palmer (2009-10 & 2008-09, Hawaii Baptist Academy) and Kanani Herring (2007-08, Kamehameha). All went on to play Division I college volleyball.