Chen named PacWest player of the year

Brigham Young-Hawaii junior outside hitter Shih Ting Chen was named Pacific West Conference player of the year for the third straight season Wednesday, one of three Seasiders earning all-conference volleyball honors.

Chen, from Yunlin, Taiwan, also was named an All-PacWest first-teamer by conference coaches for the third year in a row.

Chen led the PacWest in scoring (5.69 points) and kill average (5.12) per set. She also ranked seventh in hitting (.319), sixth in aces per set (.34) and eighth in digs per set (3.96).

Joining Chen on the first team is fellow Seasider and Taiwan native, Ying Chun Chen, a junior setter. Erh Fang Hsu, a BYUH junior middle, was named to the second team.

The Seasiders (24-1, 19-1) are ranked fourth in the Division II national coaches poll and face Alaska Anchorage in the first round of the NCAA D-II tournament Dec. 5 at Cal State San Bernardino.

Hawaii Hilo freshman outside hitter Marley Strand-Nicolaisen was named freshman of the year.

Vulcans nab overtime basketball win

The Hawaii Hilo men’s basketball team edged Tiffin (Ohio) University 93-87 in overtime Tuesday in the Naniloa Volcanoes Resorts Thanksgiving Tournament.

Lucas Swanson led the Vulcans (3-2) with 17 points, and Brandon Thomas had a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds). Joe Graessle led the Dragons (3-1) with 30 points.