UH Round-Up: Joaquin Named to NABC All-District First Team

University of Hawaii men’s basketball player Vander Joaquin picked up another accolade when he was named to the 2012 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 6 first team.

Joaquim is the first Rainbow Warrior to be named all-district since Roderick Flemings in 2008-09 and is the first player to earn first-team recognition since Michael Kuebler in 2003-04. Earlier this month the native of Luanda, Angola, was named to the all-Western Athletic Conference first team, the first UH player to earn that honor in six years.

The 6-10 junior center proved the most consistent performer on this year’s Rainbow Warrior squad. Joaquim led the team this year in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), field goal percentage (.560) and blocks (58).

Among the national leaders in rebounding and field goal percentage, Joaquim posted a team-high 12 double-doubles, including six performances with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. His 20-point, 13-rebound performance last week vs. Idaho helped lift UH to its first WAC Tournament win since 2005 and first tournament semifinal appearance in nearly a decade.

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The UH women’s volleyball team returned to the court Wednesday night, topping Nittaidai of Japan in an exhibition match at the Stan Sheriff Center, 25-15, 25-21, 14-25, 28-26.

The Rainbow Wahine were nearly taken to a fifth set after holding a 2-0 lead. UH led most of the way in set four but a late Nittaidai surge almost forced a deciding fifth set. The Bows faced set point three times before finally rallying for a 28-26 win to capture the match.

Jane Croson recording 18 kills and 10 digs for UH. Emily Hartong posted 15 kills, seven digs, and two blocks, Kristiana Tuaniga hit .400 (7-15) and had a match-high five blocks along with Kaela Goodman.

Jade Vorster and Maui’s Ginger Long saw their first action in a Rainbow Wahine uniform after redshirting this Fall. Vorster earned the start and finished with eight kills and six digs, with Long adding two kills and one dig.

Nasami Wasai led Nittaidai with 18 kills and 11 digs, and Ayumi Nakamura posted 14 kills.

The Rainbow Wahine next take on Nebraska in their second and final Spring match. The Bows and Huskers will do battle on Maui Friday, Mar. 23, at War Memorial Gym. Start time is set for 6 p.m.

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The No. 18/19 UH softball team (22-1) bounced back with a 6-0 win over Marist (6-11). Junior pitcher Kaia Parnaby fired her second career no-hitter with a career high 14 strike outs to lead UH to the win on the second day of the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Parnaby, a southpaw from Bilgola Plateau, New South Wales, Australia, tossed seven innings for her 10th complete game win and sixth shut-out of the season—her third straight. She faced just two batters over the minimum—one was a throwing error by herself and the other runner reached on a seventh inning walk.

The Rainbow Wahine and Red Foxes were scoreless through the first three innings until the bottom of the fourth inning when UH erupted for five runs. After a leadoff strike out, Jessica Iwata and Alex Aguirre both drew walks to put runners at first and second. Later after a fly out, Leisha Li`ili`i laced a single through the right side of the infield that drove in Iwata from second. Then, pinch runner Jazmine Zamora came for Li`ili`i at first bases and she and Aguirre then executed a double steal to score UH’s second run. On the play Aguirre slid away and her hand swiped the bases just before the tag. Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu then drove in Zamora from second base with an opposite-field single to right. Dara Pagaduan followed with an infield single, beating out the throw from short to put runners at first and second for Kelly Majam who hit a line shot single to centerfield to score pinch runner Rachel Paragas from third base and Pagaduan hustled into third. Another double steal with runners at the corners gave UH a 5-0 lead with Pagaduan crossing the plate before Majam was tagged out for the final out of the inning.

In the sixth, Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu got her second hit of the game with a home run to left that bounced off the Marist leftfielder’s glove and over the fence for UH’s sixth run.

Marist’s Emily Osterhaus also threw a complete game, giving up six runs on seven hits with four walks and three strike outs.

Hawaii continues their Chevron Spring Fling Tournament tonight at 6:30 against No. 1/2 California at 6:30 p.m.

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Start times for the Hawaii baseball games on Apr. 14 and 15 against Saint Mary’s have been changed to accommodate the visit of the Dalai Lama to the UH-Manoa campus.

The Saturday, Apr. 14, matchup has been changed to a single game beginning at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday, Apr. 15, will now be a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

The Friday, Apr. 13, game will be played as scheduled.

UH vs. Saint Mary’s Updated Schedule:

Friday, Apr. 13 – 6:35 p.m.

Saturday, Apr. 14 – 6:35 p.m.

Sunday, Apr. 15 – 11:00 a.m. (doubleheader)