The University of Hawaii at Hilo posted two players on the Pacific West Conference reseason team thanks to senior setter
Katie Swenson (Omaha, NE/Gross Catholic) and senior right side
Kawena Cubi-Otineru (Haleiwa, HI/St. Francis).
Both players were named All-PacWest Second Team in 2009.
Swenson claimed PacWest Newcomer of the Year honors in 2009 after leading the conference in assist average (12.13 per game). She totaled 1104 assists in 91 games last season.
Cubi-Otineru ended the 2010 campaign third in the PacWest in hitting with a .302 average ? one of just three conference players to finish the season above the.300 mark. She posted 198 kills in 398 attempts with 78 errors.
In the team poll, Dixie State totaled 78 points in the preseason coaches' poll – including a trio of first-place votes – getting the nod as the preseason favorite to claim this year's crown. But reigning champion Hawai'i Hilo also received three first-place votes and ranked second with 74 points.
BYU-Hawaii and Hawai'i Pacific can't be discounted either. The Seasiders are picked third with 71 total points, while the Sea Warriors enter the season ranked fourth with 70 points. Each team received one first-place vote.
Grand Canyon did not receive a first-place nod, but the Antelopes accumulated 62 points and are picked to finish fifth, while Academy of Art nabbed the final first-place vote and are predicted to finish sixth after amassing 51 points.
Chaminade and Notre Dame de Namur tied for seventh with 32 points each, while Dominican University of California is slated to finish ninth.
