In the past couple of days, multiple UH-Hilo athletes and teams have earned regional and conference recognitions.
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ARTHUR SOTO
Junior third-baseman Arthur Soto was named the NCBWA West Region Player of the Week, as announced Wednesday — in addition to being named Pacific West Conference Player of the Week.
Soto hit .429 (9-21) over five games with seven RBI, two home runs, and four doubles for a .905 slugging percentage. He helped UH-Hilo to a 4-1 record at the Big Island Baseball Bash with multiple clutch base hits: a go-ahead hit, a game-winning walk-off hit, and a game-tying hit in the bottom of the ninth.
The third baseman ended a game against Chaminade with a bases-loaded single for a 4-3 win, tied a contest against St. Martin’s in the bottom of the ninth with a single (5-4 UHH win), and put the Vulcans in front of the Saints one day earlier with a single during an 8-3 victory.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
The award for PacWest Defender of the Week went to a team this week, rather than an individual player.
UH-Hilo held Biola to just 54 points and Concordia to 56 in a pair of wins at home last week for their second and third victories in a row. The Vulcans held Biola to 42 percent shooting from the floor and clamped down on the Golden Eagles at 41 percent. The Vulcans lead the PacWest in defense, holding the opposition to 67.0 points per game.
“Our defensive toughness, communication and focus on details were great this week,” UH-Hilo head coach Kaniela Aiona said in a press release. “Nadjrick (Peat) always anchors the defense but everyone stepped it up on that end of the floor. It was a really balanced team effort.”
The Vulcans will be back in action Friday for a road test at Academy of Art.
They will then finish out the month with a road trip through California.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The PacWest Team of the Week is UH-Hilo. The Vulcans have won four straight including life-creating wins at home over Concordia (76-70) and Biola (53-49), two teams above them in the conference standings.
UHH has now improved to 7-8 in the PacWest (10-11 overall) to climb into seventh place, just one game back of a PacWest tournament spot behind Biola (8-7).
Kamalu Kamakawiwoole had Player of the Week numbers, scoring a total of 26 points with 17 rebounds, nine steals and four blocked shots.
Keirstyn Agonias was right with her with 28 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and eight assists on the week.
Kaile Cruz had 28 to provide a trio of scoring for the Vulcans, who next hit the road for four games in northern and central California.