GOLD CANYON, AZ – It is an exciting time for the Pacific West Conference as the 2006-07 All-Conference Week begins.
Over the course of the next week, All-Pacific West Conference Teams will be announced in the sports of men's and women's basketball, volleyball and, for the first time, in the sports of men's and women's soccer. In addition, a freshman of the year and most valuable player in each sport will be announced.
Athletes representing six of the league's seven schools have been nominated for the coveted All-Conference honors. In 2006-07, 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 complete league schedule for all sports in 2007-08 – will be eligible next year.
After a one-year hiatus as an unofficial league, the four new Hawaiian-based institutions teamed up with the three mainland schools to reform the Pacific West Conference. Men's soccer, women's soccer and women's basketball were added as conference sports in the league's new configuration.
The first of the Pacific West All-Conference Teams to be announced is women's soccer. NDNU senior forward Hope Seiffert (Bayfield, CO/Bayfield) and Hawai'i-Hilo junior forward Karen Weatherby (Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande) share the first Player of the Year award presented in the sport.
The All-Conference awards are nominated and voted upon by the league coaches. The Pacific West Coach of the Year honor is presented to the head coach of the league's first-place team.
Seiffert helped lead NDNU to the Pacific West Championship as the Argos rolled to a 9-0-1 Pac West record. She posted 13 points on five goals and three assists.
Weatherby led Hawai'i-Hilo with 13 goals and four assists for a grand total of 30 points this year. She scored the first goal in Vulcans' history and recorded the program's first and only hat trick. She also scored against each of the Pac West schools with the exception of Grand Canyon.
Freshman of the Year went to rookie Emily Mearns (San Ramon, CA/California) who guided BYU-Hawai'i to a terrific 12-4 overall mark and an 8-2 record in the Pac West. She scored 31 points on 13 goals and five assists. Mearns, Seiffert and Weatherby each were selected All-Pacific West Conference First Team.
Former NDNU head coach Joe Silveira was named the Pacific West Women's Coach of the Year. NDNU finished with six All-Conference selections, while BYU-Hawai'i totaled five. Grand Canyon and Hawai'i Pacific each posted four total selections and Hawai'i-Hilo earned three selections. Chaminade finished with a pair of All-Pac West Second Team choices.
The following is the complete list of the Pacific West All-Conference Women's Soccer Team:
2006 All-Pacific West Conference Women's Soccer Team
Co=Players of the Year
Hope Seiffert, NDNU, F, Sr., 5-7, Bayfield, CO/Bayfield
Karen Weatherby Hawaii-Hilo, F, Jr., 5-5, Arroyo Grande, CA/ Arroyo Grande
Freshman of the Year
Emily Mearns, BYU-Hawaii, F, Fr., 5-5, San Ramon, CA/California
Coach of the Year
Joe Silveira, NDNU, Led Argos to Pacific West Women's Championship
First Team
Player Institution, Pos., Yr., Ht., Hometown/High School
Emilee Ashby, Grand Canyon, D/M, Sr., 5-4, Port Orchard, WA
Shana Chibidakis, NDNU, D, Sr., 5-7, San Mateo, CA/Aragon
Jill Harr, BYU-Hawaii, F Jr. 5-3 Diamond Bar, CA/Walnut
Emily Mearns, BYU-Hawaii, F Fr. 5-5 San Ramon, CA/California
Melissa Naeole Hawaii Pacific GK Jr. 5-7 Kahului, HI/St. Anthony
Kerianne Pascua Hawaii Pacific D Sr. 5-2 Kaneohe, HI/Maryknoll
Hope Seiffert NDNU F Sr. 5-7 Bayfield, CO/Bayfield
Karen Weatherby Hawaii-Hilo F Jr. 5-5 Arroyo Grande, CA/Arroyo Grande
Kelly White Hawaii-Hilo M Fr. 5-6 Santa Barbara/San Marcos
Vanessa Young Grand Canyon F So. 5-9 San Diego, CA
Yang Zhou NDNU D Sr. 5-9 Da Lian, China/Da Lian Soccer Academy
Second Team
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown/High School
Malu Afong Chaminade D Sr. 5-3 Waimanalo, HI
Amy Armijo NDNU M/F Fr. 5-8 Castro Valley, CA/Castro Valley
Kristi Astin BYU-Hawaii M So. 5-3 Hayden, ID/Coeur d'Alene
Kelli Brackinreed NDNU M/F Sr. 5-6 Tualaton, OR/Tualaton
Tessa Chesser Grand Canyon D So. 5-6 Phoenix, AZ
Michelle Halloran Chaminade GK 5-7
Malia Kane Hawaii Pacific D/MF Sr. 5-4 Kaneohe, HI/Maryknoll
Healani Leite-Ah Yo Hawaii-Hilo D Jr. 5-8 Hilo, HI/Kamehameha
Kristina Nibley BYU-Hawaii M/D Fr. 5-8 Provo, UT/Timpview
Sarah Norton BYU-Hawaii D Jr. 5-7 Cedar City, UT/Cedar City
Kaia Wakamiya NDNU D/M Sr. 5-3 Fair Oaks, CA/Bella Vista
Honorable Mention
Player Institution Pos. Yr. Ht. Hometown/High School
Jessica Clement BYU-Hawaii GK So. 5-8 Kent, WA/Kentridge
Jamie Hirai Hawaii Pacific MF Fr. 5-3 Cook, HI/Konawaena
Shela Robertson Grand Canyon GK Jr. 5-9 Blaine, WA
(Friday: – All-Pacific West Volleyball Team to be announced.)
-PWC--