Taylor, Kahakai awarded Big West honors; Wahine move up to No. 12

After having just one conference volleyball player of the week honor last season, Hawaii has three in as many weeks. And, for the third time in Big West history, it is one player tripling up three weeks in a row.

Rainbow Wahine junior hitter Nikki Taylor joined Long Beach State’s Antoinette White and Pacific’s Dominique Benton-Bozman in the league’s record book Monday with her third straight POW award. (White did it in 1991 and Benton-Bozman in 1995).

Also recognized by the Big West was Hawaii sophomore libero/defensive specialist Savanah Kahakai, named the defensive player of the week. The Farrington High product finished with 42 digs in three matches at the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge, including a career-high 19 in the five-set win over then-No. 2 Florida.

It was Kahakai’s first Big West honor of her career, while it was Taylor’s fifth.

Last week, Taylor had a tournament-high 57 kills, with 27 digs, 16 blocks and nine aces in helping Hawaii to the title of the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge. The Kaiser High product was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, her second in three tourneys this season, a performance that included a career-high 27 kills against the Gators.

Hawaii also had two players earn honors in the same week last season when Sarah Mendoza (defensive) and Kalei Greeley (freshman) were honored on Oct. 27, and Taylor (defensive) and Greeley (freshman) on Nov. 24.

Also on Monday, the Rainbow Wahine (8-1) moved up to No. 12 in the AVCA Coaches Division I Top 25, their highest ranking this season.

Penn State (8-0) is a unanimous No. 1, receiving all 60 first-place votes. Losses by Florida and then-No. 3 Stanford helped Texas (7-1) move up two spots to No. 2

Behind the Longhorns are USC (10-0), also moving up two spots, with Nebraska (8-1) up a spot to No. 4 and Florida (6-1) dropping to No. 5. Rounding out the top 10 are Illinois (7-1), Washington (8-0), Stanford (4-2), BYU (8-1) and Arizona State (8-0).

Hawaii is the only Big West team ranked. Defending conference champion Long Beach State (8-2) continues to receive votes (28).

The Rainbow Wahine conclude their nonconference schedule when they host Cal State Bakersfield (2-8) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. Sunday’s match is preceded by the alumnae match at 3 p.m.