DES MOINES, Iowa >> As Hawaii continues its path to a national volleyball championship, two Rainbow Wahine continue on their paths to All-America honors.
Senior middle Olivia Magill and junior opposite Nikki Taylor were named to the AVCA Pacific North All-Region team on Tuesday, which qualifies the pair for All-America consideration. These are the 80th and 81st all-region certificates for the Hawaii program.
| NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT REGIONAL
>> Hawaii (28-1) vs. No. 7 seed Penn State (28-5), 3:30 p.m., Friday, Des Moines, Iowa |
“It’s quite an honor to make the Pacific North all-region team,” said Magill, selected for a second consecutive season. “It is an extremely competitive region.
“I am proud of myself, but I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for my teammates and coaches making me better.”
Magill, an honorable mention All-American last season, ranks 12th nationally in blocks per set (1.49 bps). The Arizona transfer, one of two Rainbow Wahine who has started all 29 matches, has helped Hawaii remain No. 1 in blocks (3.18 bps) coming into this week.
It is the first all-region selection for Taylor, named last week as the Big West Conference Player of the Year. The Kaiser High product ranks in the top 50 nationally in points (5th, 5.41 pps), kills (17th, 4.36 kps), aces (21st, 0.43 aps), points (42nd, 530.5) and total aces (45th, 46).
“I’d like to thank my teammates and coaches, for without them I would not be in this position,” said Taylor, who is 50 kills away from becoming the 19th Rainbow Wahine to reach 1,000 kills. “I am very humbled to receive this award. But it feels very fulfilling to know one of the things I’ve worked to achieve during the season has been accomplished.
“However there’s still more work to do.”
“Congratulations to Olivia and Nikki for this award,” Hawaii coach Dave Shoji said. “Their stellar play this year has allowed our team to win the Big West and to advance to the NCAA regionals.”
Hawaii (28-1) takes a 23-match win streak into Friday’s second regional semifinal against two-time defending NCAA champion Penn State (28-5) at the Wells Fargo Arena (3:30 p.m. Hawaii time). In the opener, Big Ten champion Minnesota (28-4) faces Illinois (21-12).
The Rainbow Wahine will continue to be without junior middle Annie Mitchem, who has been out since mid-October following surgery for a fractured pinky finger on her right (hitting) hand. She was cleared to practice on a limited basis last week and was with the team in College Station for the two subregional victories. However, she has not been cleared to play and returned to Honolulu for this week’s final week of classes.
The only other Big West player honored on Tuesday was Long Beach State setter Jenell Hudson. She was on the all-Pacific South Region team.
Just like the Pac-12, the Big West has its teams divided between two regions.
Three Hawaii prep products also were honored, including three-time selection Carly Kan (Punahou), a junior outside hitter for Missouri who is the first Tiger ever honored three times. Also Arizona teammates Penina Snuka (Kahuku) and Kalei Mau were named to the Pacific South Region teams. Snuka, a junior setter, is a two-time first-team selection, while junior hitter Kalei Mau (Kaiser) was named honorable mention.
Hawaii arrived here Tuesday afternoon from Texas and has a scheduled practice at Drake University on Wednesday. It is the first third-round appearance for Hawaii since 2011 and the 27th regional appearance in 35 NCAA seasons.
The Wahine competed in the AIAW from 1974 to 1980, winning the title in 1979. Hawaii never finished lower than third in seven seasons, with three runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes.
