Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: File photo Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan (15) runs the ball for an attempt at a first down against Boise State.

Media Credit: File photo Rainbow Wahine Aneli Cubi-Otineru (13) spikes the ball against Boise State Bronco Arlee Tamietti (21) during a game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

There is so much that could be said about the performance of the University of Hawai‘i athletes during the past fall season. The football, women's volleyball and the women's soccer teams won Western Athletic Conference titles. For the Rainbow Wahine soccer team, this was the first ever WAC title in the program's history.

In recognition of the Rainbow Wahine soccer and volleyball teams' and the football Warriors' performances, the week of Jan. 16 to 22 is designated "Celebration of Champions Week" by UH, state, and city and county officials.

There are four scheduled events intended to commemorate the championship seasons of these three squads as well as honor the student-athletes and coaches. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, the House and Senate will honor these three teams in the Senate Chambers the opening day of the 2008 Legislature at the State Capitol at 10 a.m.

After the ceremony, there will be a joint Senate-House celebration in the rotunda at noon. At the rotunda there will be comments by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and House Speaker Calvin Say, and UH President David McClain and UH Mānoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw. This event is open for the public to attend. During the festivities, the UH band and Rainbow Dancers will provide music and entertainment.

On Saturday, Jan. 19, there will be a presentation, "WAC Champions on Display," at the men's basketball game against Fresno State at the Stan Sheriff Center beginning at 7:05 p.m. During halftime, the members of the football, women's volleyball and women's soccer teams will be introduced and will be presented their conference championship trophies by WAC Commissioner Karl Benson.

As an added bonus, each fan that attends the basketball game will receive a free poster designed to commemorate the 2007 football season. The poster includes a team photo as well as the autographs of players and coaches. It will be distributed at a table near Gate A prior to the basketball game. There is a limit of one poster per person.

On Sunday, Jan. 20, Mayor of Honolulu Mufi Hannemann, as well as the City & County of Honolulu, is hosting a "Parade of Champions" at 4 p.m. in Waikīkī to honor these three teams, as well as several local high school and intermediate football champions. The parade will start at Fort DeRussy (located on Saratoga Road and Kalākaua Avenue) and end at the "Sunset on the Beach" site (located on Kapahulu and Kalākaua avenues), where food, music and entertainment will take place.

Finally, on Tuesday, Jan. 22, to close the "Celebration of Champions Week," Governor Linda Lingle will also recognize the coaches and players from the WAC championship teams during her State of the State address at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol. After the commencement of her address, UH representatives in attendance will join her for lunch at Washington Place.

Warriors football

There has been much hype recently due to head coach June Jones leaving Hawai‘i to take his new position as head coach at Southern Methodist University in Texas, as well as the termination of Athletic Director Herman Frazier. But we will never forget the outstanding performance by the Warriors football squad, which was the only undefeated (12-0) team in the nation during the regular season.

The Warriors made their first ever trip to a BCS bowl in the program's history. On New Year's Day the football squad entered the Superdome in New Orleans and played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, but fell short to the Georgia Bulldogs 41-10.

Despite the loss, the Warriors football squad has a lot to be proud of. Not only were they the only undefeated team in the nation, but they also gained national exposure, as several of their conference matches were televised to a national audience on ESPN. We'll never forget the accomplishments of Heisman finalist, quarterback Colt Brennan, who led the Warriors to victory.

Everywhere you looked, the residents of Hawai‘i were caught up in the Warriors football hype, as well as "Coltmania." The saying "Believe!" won the hearts of locals. Some of those who weren't football fanatics soon became believers.

There was a frenzy for the latest Warriors football shirts and shirts that advertised Hawai‘i's Heisman hopeful. Warriors athletes like Colt Brennan, Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Jason Rivers, C.J. Hawthorne and Dan Kelly became household names.

Although much of the sports focus was on the incredible season UH football has had, the university, as well as the state of Hawai‘i, has gotten national recognition.

Rainbow Wahine volleyball

With the loss of All-American setter Kanoe Kamana‘o, the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team struggled early on in the season with a five-game loss to Michigan and two sweeps at the hands of Oregon State and UCLA. But after the loss against UCLA, the Rainbow Wahine rallied back, winning 13 consecutive matches. The 'Bows ended the 2007 season ranked 18th in the nation with a 27-6 overall record.

The Wahine's only conference loss was to Utah State in a three-game sweep, which also ended a 108 conference home win streak. Regardless of the loss, the'Bows picked up their eighth straight WAC tournament championship in Las Cruces, N.M. The win at the WAC tournament gave the Rainbow Wahine an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Rainbow Wahine swept through the Tennessee State Tigers (20-14) in the NCAA tournament first round, winning in three games, 30-26, 30-14, 30-17. Senior middle blocker Juliana Sanders hit an impressive .714 with 11 kills in the win against the Tigers. Houston posted 18 kills, along with seven digs, five blocks and two service aces.

But the 'Bows' season came to an end at the hands of the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (35-2) in a four-game loss 30-22, 30-18, 15-30, 33-31. The No. 18 Rainbow Wahine ended the season with a 27-6 record, while the four-game loss marked the first ever loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament in the program's history.

Junior outside hitter Jamie Houston made her way into the record books by securing herself a place in the fourth spot on the all-time career kills list at UH, surpassing the previous record of former Rainbow Wahine Angelica Ljungquist (1993 to 1996) who recorded 1,570 kills in her career. Houston ended the season with 623 kills, for a career total 1,611.

Houston also earned three WAC player of the week honors during the season and has a combined total of six WAC player of the week honors during her three-year career. The junior outside hitter also was selected as the WAC player of the year by the conference coaches before the start of the tournament.

For the 12th year running, the WAC coaches selected a UH player for this prestigious award. Houston joins an elite list of former Rainbow Wahine, which includes, Angelica Ljungquist, Cecelia Goods, Heather Bown, Lily Kahumoku, Kim Willoughby and Kanoe Kamana‘o.

Joining Houston on the all-conference first team list was sophomore Aneli Cubi-Otineru and senior middle blocker Juliana Sanders. This season marks the third straight year that Sanders has been named to the all-conference first team. In 2005, Houston made the all conference second team, while last year she was selected to the all-conference first team.

Sophomore setter Stephanie Brandt was on the all-conference second team, along with junior captain Tara Hittle. This is Hittle's second time being recognized, as she was recognized on the 2005 all-conference second team. Freshman libero Elizabeth Ka‘aihue made the six-player, all-freshman team.

Rainbow Wahine soccer

The Rainbow Wahine soccer team had one of the best seasons in the program's history, as the 'Bows won the first ever WAC tournament title and third ever WAC regular season title. The team finished the season with a 15-5-2 overall record and a 6-1-0 conference record.

During WAC tournament play, the 'Bows defeated Utah State in double overtime, with the winning goal scored by senior Koren Takeyama. The championship game between the 'Bows and the Fresno State Bulldogs was another scoreless game until sophomore Emma Makepa-Foley scored the winning goal in the 59th minute of the match.

There were five members of the Rainbow Wahine squad who made the all-tournament team. Those who made the list were forwards Taryn Fukuroku and Ambree Ako, midfielder Jessica Domingo and defenders Koren Takeyama and Chelsea Deptula.

Deptula earned the tournament MVP award and was also named to the Soccer Buzz Elite team of the week in November. The freshman defender is only the fourth Rainbow Wahine to receive this recognition, joining teammate Ambree Ako (who has earned the award twice) as well as former Rainbow Wahine Natasha Kai and Jessica Uecker.

The 'Bows faced Colorado in the first round of the NCAA tournament and dropped the contest 2-0. Despite the loss, the 'Bows set new school records, including wins in a season (15), shutouts (12) and goals (59).

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