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by Kapono Ryan

HONOLULU, HI- Chaminade University has hired its former Silversword women's volleyball star Kahala Kabalis as its new head coach for its women's volleyball team. Kabalis has served as an assistant coach for Hawaii Pacific University women's volleyball team for the past three years. In 2011, she served as the head volleyball coach at Le Jardin High School in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH). Before that, she served for three years as head coach at Radford High School of the Oahu Interscholastic League (OIA).  Back in 2006, she founded the HI Intensity Volleyball Club on Oahu.
 
The Chaminade master's degree graduate, currently working on a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Education at Capella University, stated that her career goal has been "to acquire a head coach position at the collegiate level in Hawaii and achieve success by winning conference championships and qualifying for the NCAA National Tournament." Kabalis said, "Now that I'm here, I can’t wait to get started."
 
As a collegiate player, Kabalis earned Pacific West Conference first team honors in 2003 and 2004 while playing women's volleyball for the Silverswords.  She graduated from Moanalua High School in 2001 where she earned first team girls volleyball all-state and OIA honors. 
 
Chaminade athletics director, Bill Villa, is excited. “Kahala understands Chaminade and has a keen sense of pride and understanding of who we are and what we want to accomplish," he said. "She has been successfully involved in the PacWest for 6 years both as a player and coach.   Kahala is a great role model for our student-athletes.  She excelled as a student, performed at the highest level as an athlete, dedicated herself to developing her coaching skills and is now back home at Chaminade to take on this opportunity as the leader of our women’s volleyball program.  We are proud and thrilled to have her with us.”

HONOLULU – In a ceremony held at the Stan Sheriff Center, the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team was honored by Governor Neil Abercrombie for their successful 2011 season.
 
Abercrombie officially proclaimed January 9, 2012 as 2011 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Team Day.
 
"This team was an inspirational to all of us in the state," said Governor Abercrombie. "We encourage everyone in the state of Hawai'i to join us in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of this Rainbow Wahine volleyball team."
 
"I want to thank the Governor and the people of Hawai'i," added Head Coach Dave Shoji. "We all feel a sense of responsibility to play for everyone in the state. We play for ourselves and our coaches, but we do play for the people of Hawai'i."
 
UH ran the table in the Western Athletic Conference for the 13^th time en route to its 16^th conference title. The 'Bows topped Northern Colorado and Colorado State in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Honolulu Regional. It was the 30^thpostseason appearance by Hawai'i.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – University of Hawai'i outside hitter Kanani Danielson has received the 2011 Lowes Senior CLASS Award in collegiate volleyball. Danielson will formally receive the coveted award Thursday during the first semifinal of the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Tex.
 
To have been eligible, student-athletes must have been classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
 
Danielson was named Wednesday to the AVCA All-America First Team along with sophomore Emily Hartong, who earned second team honors. She became just the third four-time AVCA all-America winner in program history, and sixth three-time first team selection.
 
The award was determined by a selection process that includes NCAA Division I collegiate coaches, national media, and fans. The acronym “CLASS” stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School.
 
Danielson exits the UH women's volleyball program fifth in career kills (1,760) and digs (1,233). She is also just the seventh player with more than 1,000 of each. In her final two matches, an NCAA second round win over Colorado State and a loss to USC in the regional semifinal, she had more than 20 kills and digs including a career-high 23 digs against USC.

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Hawai'i Press Conference
USC Press Conference

HONOLULU – The No. 3 University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team saw its postseason run come to end Friday, falling in five sets to Southern California, 19-25, 29-27, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12. The Rainbow Wahine close the season at 31-2 while USC (28-4) moves on to Saturday's regional final.
 
Jane Croson and Kanani Danielson carried the 'Bows throughout the match, both recording over 20 kills and digs. Croson, who posted her third double-double of the postseason, had career-highs in both (25 kills, 23 digs) and Kanani Danielson had 21 kills and 23 digs. Brittany Hewitt recorded a match-high 11 blocks.
 
Alex Jupiter had a match-high 33 kills for the Trojans.
 
In front of a sold out crowd, UH struck first with a 25-19 set one win. The 'Bows held early leads of 7-3 and 13-6 before USC rallied to cut the lead 17-14. Katie Fuller (12 kills, 8 digs) and Sara Shaw (8 kills, 11 digs) each posted a kill in the run. Hawai'i returned the favor, as Croson nailed consecutive kills to push UH's lead up to 23-18. Hewitt and Kaela Goodman recorded block assists to clinch the win.
 
The second set saw USC even the match with an epic 29-27 win. Fuller and Alexis Olgard each had a pair of early kills for the Trojans, but Croson and Chanteal Satele (12 kills) responded with two kills to give UH a 12-9 lead. The 'Bows staved off four set points before a Fuller kill won the set and evened the match for USC.
 
Undaunted, UH returned from the break to capture a 25-19 set three win, inching one set closer to a trip to the NCAA Final Four, but could not seal the win in set four. Satele gave the 'Bows a 19-17 lead, but USC rallied with three straight points. Danielson later posted a kill to give UH a 23-22 lead, but the Women of Troy again scored three straight to earn the win.
 
The fifth set saw USC take an early lead and hold on to the win. The 'Bows trailed by as many as four points before storming back to cut the lead to 13-12, but Jupiter and Shaw put down kills to win the match.
 
The regional semifinal was the first sell out since 2003, with 9,692 fans coming through the turnstile.
 
The NCAA Honolulu Regional concludes Saturday with USC taking on Pepperdine at 7:00 p.m.

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