PacWest Women's Volleyball

GOLD CANYON, AZ ? Brigham Young University Hawai'i junior outside hitter Michelle (Tuli) Peters (Laie, Oahu, HI/Kahuku) has been chosen the 2006 Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, while Grand Canyon University rookie outside Dana Edington (Peoria, AZ/Centennial) was named the league's Freshman of the Year as Pac West All-Conference Week continued.

The honors were voted upon by the league's head coaches and announced by the conference information office in Gold Canyon, AZ, on Tuesday.

Athletes representing six of the league's seven schools were nominated for the coveted All-Conference accolades. Brigham Young University Hawai'i, Hawai'i Pacific, Hawai'i-Hilo, Chaminade, Notre Dame de Namur and Grand Canyon are all eligible for Pacific West honors this year, while Dixie State ? which will compete in a full league schedule in 2007-08 ? will be eligible next season.

Both Peters and Edington landed on the All-Pacific West Volleyball Team with Peters garnering First Team honors and Edington taking Second Team accolades.

The top six vote-getters in the weighted poll receive First Team rewards, while Second Team honors go to those who rank between 7th ?12th. Any athletes receiving votes who do not crack the Top 12 are considered Honorable Mention All-Conference.

BYU-Hawaii head coach Wilfred Navalta has been selected as the Pacific West Conference Volleyball Coach of the Year. The Pac West does not vote for Coach of the Year, instead the league champion's mentor is presented with the prestigious award.

In 22 seasons at the Seasider helm, Navalta has compiled an amazing 509-97 (.840) record. He has led BYU-Hawai'i since 1985, winning 10 National Championships ? eight NAIA titles and two NCAA Division II crowns ? during his tenure.

Peters was one of three BYU-Hawaii volleyball players chosen as All-Pac West First Team members after the veteran led the Seasiders to a perfect regular season record (20-0), the Pacific West title (15-0) and a berth in the NCAA Division II West Regional.

BYU-Hawaii suffered its only loss of the season against Cal State-Los Angeles in the opening round of the NCAA Division II National Championships and finished the year ranked 15th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Poll.

Peters was joined on the First Team by BYU-Hawai'i teammates Noelle Filimoeatu (Lindon, UT/Timpanogos) and LeeAnn Mapu (Laie, Oahu, HI/Kahuku), while Faylynn Merrick (Sauk Rapids, MN/Sauk Rapids Rice) claimed honors for the Seasiders.

Hawai'i-Hilo, Chaminade and Hawai'i Pacific each placed one player on the First Team, while Grand Canyon received three Second Team selections. Chaminade finished with three total All-Conference selections after putting two athletes on the Second Team.

The following is a complete list of the 2006 Pacific West Conference Volleyball Team:

2006 All-Pacific West Conference Volleyball Team

First Team

Athlete, Team, P, Yr., Ht., Hometown/High School

Filimoeatu, Noelle, BYU-Hawai'i, OH, Jr., 5-8, Lindon, UT/Timpanogos

Kauliakamoa, Trina, Chaminade, OH, So., 5-10, Las Vegas, NV

Mapu, LeeAnn, BYU-Hawai'i, SET, So., 5-7, Laie, Oahu, HI/Kahuku

Martin, Barbara, Hawai'i Pacific, MH, Sr., 6-3, Curitiba, Brazil

Peters, Michelle, BYU-Hawai'i, OH, Jr., 5-9, Laie, Oahu, HI/Kahuku

Savage, Taina, Hawai'i-Hilo, OH, Sr., 5-9, Tauranga, New Zealand

Second Team

Athlete, Team, P, Yr., Ht., Hometown/High School

Bluthenthal, Evelyn, Chaminade, MB/OH, Jr., 6-1, Los Angeles, CA

Edington, Dana, Grand Canyon, OH, Fr., 6-0, Peoria, AZ/Centennial

Kauliakamoa, Tamara, Chaminade, SET, Sr., 5-8, Las Vegas, NV

Merrick, Faylynn, BYU-Hawaii, MB, So., 5-11, Sauk Rapids, MN/Sauk Rapids Rice

Rooth, Tonya, Grand Canyon, MB, Sr., 6-1, Peoria, AZ

Taylor, Megan, Grand Canyon, SET, Sr., 5-11, Vista, CA

Honor Roll

Athlete, Team, P, Yr., Ht., Hometown/High School

Evans, Emily, NDNU, OH/MB, Jr., 6-0, Oakdale, CA/Oakdale

Folan, Shauna, NDNU, DS, So., 5-7, Pacifica, CA/Sacred Heart Cathedral

Fonnesbeck, Britnee, Chaminade, MB, Sr., 6-0, Casper, WY

Handley, Ashley, Grand Canyon, LIB, Sr., 5-6, Prescott, AZ/Bradshaw Mountain

Hernandez, Kaniu, Hawaii-Hilo, MH, Fr., 5-9, Papaikou, HI/Kamehameha Schools

Lo, Kaala, BYU-Hawaii, SET/LIB, Sr., 5-5, Mililani, Oahu, HI/Mililani

Miller, Marissa, NDNU, OH, Jr., 5-9, Linden, CA/Linden

Radanovic, Vanja, Chaminade, MB, Fr., 6-1, Zrenjanin, Serbia

Silva, Kahealani, Hawai'i-Hilo, SET, Sr., 5-3, Hilo, HI

Taylor, Chelsea, Hawai'i Pacific, MH, Fr., 5-11, Mansfield, TX