On Monday, the Hawaii Hilo women’s volleyball team earned an at-large bid into the NCAA West Regional Tournament.

It’s the sixth appearance for the Vulcans (23-7) and first since 2011. As the No. 7 seed, Hawaii Hilo will take on second seed Western Washington (26-2). It’s a rematch of the Sept. 14 match in which the Vikings beat the Vulcans in five sets.

Hawaii Hilo finished PacWest play in second place with an 18-4 record.

The West Regional runs December 5-7 and it’ll be hosted by top seed Cal State San Bernardino.

Kiner-Falefa wins PacWest award

Chaminade’s Leka Kiner-Falefa received the Newcomer of the Year award as the Pacific West Conference Awards were announced on Tuesday.

In her first playing season at Chaminade after redshirting in 2018, Kiner-Falefa set a school record with 489 digs. Her 4.58 digs per set average was eighth in the Pac West.

Six on the first-team come from the three Hawaii schools.

From Hawaii Hilo, junior outside hitter Bria Beale was a repeat selection, while freshman middle blocker Emily Wade made it for the first time. Beale led the conference with 424 kills and 483 points. Wade’s 1.24 blocks per set is second best in the PacWest.

Hawaii Pacific senior outside hitter Perla Escobar and junior outside hitter Cameryn Collie were named to the first team for a second time in their careers.

Escobar’s 3.67 kills per set led the PacWest, while her 374 kills led HPU and were second in the PWC. Collie ranked second on HPU and fourth in the conference with 3.40 kills per set.

Chaminade junior right side Rachel Reedy made all-conference for a second-straight year, while senior outside hitter Emma Tecklenburg is a two-time first-team selection and three-time all-conference nominee.

Reedy was one of three players in the PacWest to rank in the top 10 in both kills (2.96 per set) and hitting percentage (.328). Tecklenburg wrapped her career second in Chaminade history with 1,292 kills.

Making the 12-player second team were freshman setter Kendall Kott (Hawaii Hilo) and junior middle blocker Lataisia Saulala (Chaminade).