Senior Kaiulani Ahuna broke two UC-Riverside records, averaged 6.67 kills per set, 3.67 digs per set, notched two double-doubles and hit at a .364 clip to earn the first AVCA Player of the Week award in Highlander volleyball history on Monday afternoon.
The Hilo, Hawaii, native, who totaled 80 kills, over three matches, was also honored as Big West Player of the Week and VolleyMob Player of the Week for the first time in her career.
Congrats to @UCRVolleyball Outside Hitter Kaiulani Ahuna for taking home the season's first @SportsImportsVB / #AVCA Player of the Week! https://t.co/h2qLI2mye5 pic.twitter.com/ulimmaJA9f
— AVCA (@AVCAVolleyball) August 28, 2018
The 5-10 outside hitter tallied a rally scoring era program record with 30 kills against Montana, hitting a dominant .462 on the match and adding 14 digs for a double-double. The following day against Eastern Washington, Ahuna reset her own record with a 33-kill effort. Ahuna closed the weekend with 17 kills, 7 digs and a .333 attack percentage against UMass-Lowell.
Ahuna guided the Highlanders to a 2-1 opening weekend, which included a 4-set victory over Montana, a sweep of UMass-Lowell and a tight, 5-set loss to Eastern Washington.
Set the @UCR_Athletics rally-scoring era single-match kills record (30), then broke it the next day (33).
Oh, and she added 44 digs on the weekend.
So, you know – Offensive #BWCAOTW honors. #nobrainer
📰 https://t.co/Mzqhw0Fcgt#RSide #StartBig 💪🐻🏐 pic.twitter.com/lRrBzESnoo
— Big West Volleyball (@BigWestWVB) August 27, 2018
Ahuna, who transferred in from Eastern Washington for her junior season, was not listed as an All-Big West honoree a season ago. However, look for her to be on everyone’s radar after a stellar 2018 debut.
UC-Riverside was selected to finish seventh in the 2018 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Last season, the Highlanders posted a 10-18 record overall and finished seventh in conference standings with a 2-14 mark.
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