Emily Hartong’s astonishing volleyball adventure in Southern California last week was recognized today when the Rainbow Wahine junior was named Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week.

Hartong, from Los Alamitos, Calif, earned second-team All-America honors last year at middle blocker. This year, as an outside hitter — she has played left and right — Hartong leads ninth-ranked Hawaii and the Big West Conference, averaging 4.6 kills a set.

She bumped that up dramatically last week, averaging nearly seven, and is now ranked eighth nationally.

Hartong had a career-high 33 kills in a four-set win at Long Beach State Friday, hitting .329. She added 29 in a five-set win at UC Irvine the following night. Hartong also had career highs in digs — 15 at Long Beach and 16 at UCI — for her fifth and sixth double-doubles this season.

Hartong is the seventh Wahine to win the national award. The last was Jamie Houston in 2006.

Hawaii (19-2 overall, 12-0 Big West) hosts UC Santa Barbara (13-12, 6-4) Thursday and Cal Poly (3-19, 2-8) Saturday. Both Big West matches begin at 7 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center.