Rainbow Wahine honor top performers

With one award yet to be decided, the University of Hawaii softball team honored some of its top performers this season at its banquet Sunday night.

Seniors Kaia Parnaby, Jessica Iwata and Kelly Majam and junior Jori Jasper were among those recognized at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Fundraiser Banquet at Treetops Restaurant.

Parnaby was named UH’s Pitcher of the Year after breaking the school’s single-season wins record. Parnaby (35-5) also enters this week’s Big West series at Pacific with 317 strikeouts, seven away from tying the school and conference records.

The team’s top defensive awards went to Iwata (infield) and Majam (outfield). Majam was also named the team’s top scholar-athlete for the fourth straight year. UH coach Bob Coolen recognized Jasper with the Coaches’ Award for her "dedication and tremendous team spirit."

The offensive player of the year award goes to the team’s regular-season batting champion, which will be determined after this week’s series. Junior second baseman Jazmine Zamora moved into the lead after raising her batting average to .345 last week. Sophomore Kayla Wartner is next at .329, followed by Majam and freshman Keiki Carlos at .325.

UH (40-11, 17-4 Big West) departs Wednesday for its final road trip of the regular season. The Wahine need one win in a three-game series at Pacific (28-25, 12-9) to clinch the Big West title and the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. The series opens with a doubleheader on Friday in Stockton, Calif. The regular season ends with a single game on Saturday.

Kennell receives Hawaii tennis honor

Yu-Hsien "Mimi" Kennell, director of junior tennis for USTA Hawaii Pacific since 2006, is Hawaii’s Professional Tennis Registry Member of the Year. She was honored last weekend at the annual PTR International Tennis Symposium on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

The award recognizes "dedication and diligence in promoting and supporting tennis and PTR."

Kennell played on the Taiwanese Fed Cup team before moving to Hawaii. Along with her USTA position, she also coaches elite juniors, including Shelby Baron, an internationally ranked wheelchair player.

5 Hawaii players on World League roster

Three Hawaii prep products, including brothers Kawika and Erik Shoji, and two former University of Hawaii players were named to the 22-player roster of the U.S.’s FIVB World League team Monday.

Setter Kawika Shoji (‘Iolani) and libero Erik Shoji (Punahou) will be joined by former Stanford teammate Brad Lawson (‘Iolani), an outside hitter. Former Warriors named to the team were middle blocker Matt Rawson (2007-10) and libero Alfee Reft (2004-06).

The U.S. finished second in this event last year.