Aaron Valdes scored 33 points on 15-of-20 shooting Tuesday night and Hawaii defeated UH-Hilo 86-67 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
Aaron Valdes scored 33 points on 15-of-20 shooting Tuesday night and Hawaii defeated UH-Hilo 86-67 at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
The Division I Rainbow Warriors improved to 6-1 and remained undefeated at home, while the game was an exhibition for the Division II Vulcans.
Hawaii dominated inside, outscoring UH-Hilo 54-18 in the paint and holding a 43-31 rebounding edge.
Isaac Fleming added 17 points and six rebounds for UH, which shot 48.6 percent.
Patrick Ball led UH-Hilo with 20 points and Van Lockett added 13.
UH-Hilo, which trailed 44-33 at the half, turned the ball over 23 times.
The Vulcans were successful from the free-throw line, finishing 13 of 14, but they shot just 38.6 percent.
Ball, a freshman guard, reached career-high on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, making three 3-pointers.
UH-Hilo steps back in to Pacific West Conference play Thursday at Chaminade.
Cookus will keep his job
Hawaii football coach Nick Rolovich retained special teams coach Jake Cookus, the third member he has kept from last season’s staff.
“I’m happy to have Jake on board and I appreciated his work on special teams last year and also his efforts to keep the kids going through a different time at the end of last season,” Rolovich said in a release. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know him and I’m confident he will only make our special teams better.”
Cookus joins offensive line coach Chris Naeole and defensive backs coach Abe Elimimian as Rolovich’s initial hires.
Rainbow Wahine honored
Hawaii’s Olivia Magill and Nikki Taylor each earned American Volleyball Coaches Association Pacific North All-Region honors.
It is the third time that Magill has garnered all-region honors and it is the first all-region accolade for Taylor.
Magill led the Big West Conference in both hitting percentage (.431) and blocks per set (1.49).
“It’s quite an honor to make the Pacific North All-Region team.” Magill said. “It is an extremely competitive region. I am proud of myself, but I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for my teammates and coaches making me better. “
Taylor, the Big West’s Player of the Year, led UH with 427 kills; 4.36 kills per set; and 42 service aces.
“I am very humbled to receive this award. But it is also very fulfilling to know that one of the things I’ve worked so hard to achieve during the season has been accomplished,” Taylor said. “However, there is still more work to be done! I’d like to thank my teammates and coaches for without them I would not be in this position.”