TAMPA, Fla. - Five WAC volleyball players have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America team. Hawai’i’s Kanani Danielson headlined the group with first team honors, while teammate Aneli Cubi-Otineru received third team honors. Amber Kaufman and Dani Mafua of Hawai’i and Jennah DeVries of New Mexico State were each named to the honorable mention team.
Danielson, a 5-10 sophomore outside hitter from Ewa Beach, O’ahu, led the Rainbow Wahine to a perfect WAC season along with their 10th WAC Tournament title. One of the country’s best in kills and points per set, Danielson was named the WAC Player of the Year. She is a two-time AVCA All-America selection, having been named to the third team in 2008.
Cubi-Otineru, a 5-11 senior outside hitter from Hale’iwa, O’ahu, propelled the Rainbow Wahine to the NCAA Division I semifinals with a 32-3 record. The three-time all-WAC first team honoree finished the season ranked in the top 20 nationally in aces per set. Cubi-Otineru is a first-time AVCA All-American.
A 6-1 senior middle hitter from San Jose, Calif., Kaufman was named first team all-WAC for a second straight season. She ranks third in the country in hitting percentage (.431). She has 272 kills with 64 digs and 84 blocks.
Mafua, a 5-10 junior setter from Kapolei, O’ahu, was also named first team all-WAC and was named to the all-tournament team at the WAC Tournament. She had 1,355 assists this season. Mafua averaged 13.29 assists per set over the first and second round NCAA matches, ranking fourth among NCAA participants.
DeVries ranked second in the WAC with 10.14 assists per set and the team’s .216 hitting percentage also ranked second. She had 30 or more assists in 18 matches this season and 40 or more assists 10 times.
Hawai‘i faces No. 1 Penn State in the NCAA Tournament Semifinal at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, Dec. 17, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. UH is making its ninth overall appearance at the NCAA Championships and its first since 2003.