Taylor named all-region again, says SandBows career over

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Hawaii outside hitter Nikki Taylor (14) reacts after a point during the second set of a women’s college volleyball game between the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine and the Cal Poly Mustangs on Thursday, November 17, 2016 at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.

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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / NOV. 27

UH Rainbow Wahine Nikki Taylor, left, huddled with Emily Maglio while watching the NCAA volleyball tournament selection show. Both were honored Tuesday, with Taylor being named All-Pacific North region and Maglio being honorable mention.

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The season is over but not the awards for two Hawaii volleyball players. Senior opposite Nikki Taylor repeated on the All-Pacific North region team, while junior middle Emily Maglio was one of six honorable mentions among Tuesday’s AVCA selections.

Taylor, injured three points into Saturday’s NCAA second-round match at Minnesota, has been diagnosed with a fracture in her left ankle. It was not serious enough to require surgery or a cast, and she is in a walking boot.

“I’m always grateful for the accolades,” said Taylor, a second-team All-American last season. “It’s extremely humbling.

“But it’s a team sport and you can’t achieve this without your team.”

Taylor and Maglio both are beach volleyball All-Americans, and Maglio was part of the inaugural Big West Pairs Team of the Year with Katie Spieler last spring. This is the first indoor regional honor for Maglio, who led the Big West with a .400 hitting percentage — No. 14 nationally — and 133 total blocks, which ranked her 30th in the country.

“I’m so proud of Emily,” Taylor said. “She’s extremely deserving of this.”

While Maglio is scheduled to return to the beach team next semester, it appears that Taylor’s SandBows career is over.

“I was up in the air about beach until this,” she said of her injury. “I think for the betterment of my (professional) indoor career, I’ll use this time preparing for that.”

Taylor finished her UH indoor career 12th in all-time kills (1,277) and eighth in aces (117).

Five other players with Hawaii ties were selected to their respective all-region teams, led by four-time All-Southeast Region pick Carly Kan, a senior hitter at Missouri. Kan will join the Rainbow Wahine beach team in the spring as a graduate student with two years of eligibility.

Named to the All-Pacific South Region team were Arizona senior setter Penina Snuka (Kahuku), her third honor, and her Wildcats teammate Kalei Mau (St. Francis/Kaiser). Utah junior hitter Adora Anae (Kahuku) also made the Pacific South team and Pittsburgh sophomore setter Kamalani Akeo (Kamehameha) was named to the East Coast Region team.

The Rainbow Wahine have earned 83 all-region honors in program history. The AVCA All-America teams will be announced next week.