Honolulu, HI- The Ching Conference Center on the Chaminade University campus was abuzz this morning with excitement for the start of the 2008 Pac West Volleyball campaign. With an opportunity to hear from the head coaches of the Pac West conference schools, the year seems to be officially underway.
The conference announced preseason awards, including Preseason Pac West All-Conference, predicted order of finish and Preseason Pac West Player of the Year. Conference Commissioner Bob Hogue was also pleased to announce automatic qualifiers for NCAA postseason play for the champions of each sport in the Pac West.
Chaminade was well represented in the preseason awards. Picked third in the conference behind UH-Hilo and BYU-Hawaii, the Swords placed sophomore setter, Tanya Alvino and senior outside hitter, Trina Kauliakamoa, on the preseason all-conference team. A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Trina Kauliakamoa was the coaches pick as Preseason Pac West Player of the Year.
Concerning the Preseason Player of the Year, Head Coach GlennieAdams said, “it's important for her to stay injury free, she's a workhorse for us and needs to be a leader this year.”
Alvino, who led the team with 11.06 assists per game in 2007, will be counted on to run the team again in 2008. On Alvino's abilities, Coach Adams commented, “Tanya had a stable year for us, has worked hard to improve her defense and can be one of the top setters in the conference this year.”
Anticipation abounds for the Chaminade Women's Volleyball team as they gear up for 2008. A strong nucleus of returners combined with some exciting newcomers doesn't help stop the excitement for the upcoming 2008 campaign.
Led by experienced head coach Glennie Adams (15th year), the Lady Swords have as demanding a preseason schedule as any in her decade and a half at the helm. Before conference play starts, CUH is set to face ten out-of-conference opponents, six of those tests being regional games. Coach Adams says that the pre-season schedule is “as strong as it's ever been and it's important that we get off to a good start.” Chaminade faces the likes of Cal Poly Pomona, Nebraska-Kearney, Central Washington, St. Martin's, Seattle Pacific and Northwest Nazarene in pre-conference regional battles.
