DENVER Hawaiis Lauren Duggins has been named the Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week. This is the first career player of the week of the award for the junior. Teammates Lily Kahumoku and Kim Willoughby have both earned the honor twice this season.
The middle hitter from Fullerton, Calif., hit .528 as the Rainbow Wahine swept through Utah, defeating both BYU and No. 24 Utah, 3-0, to end the regular season. Against BYU, Duggins hit .615 and followed that feat with a .478 hitting performance against Utah. She is now hitting .408 this season to lead the WAC. In six games, Duggins averaged 3.50 kpg with 21 total kills.
The Rainbow Wahine enter the NCAA Tournament with a 30-1 record, losing only to Stanford, the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Hawaii will host the first and second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2000 season. The Rainbow Wahine will face Western Kentucky on Thursday, Dec. 5.
Other nominees included: Salaia Salavea, Nevada; Rebeca Pazo, Rice and Stephanie Pascucci, San Jose State.