Meet the Wahines: Elizabeth Ka`aihue

#7 Elizabeth Ka‘aihue
Position: Libero
Height: 5-8
Class: Junior
Hometown: Kailua, O`ahu
Previous School: Punahou School

Junior libero Elizabeth Ka`aihue comes from a family of serious athletes. Baseball is the sport of choice for her father and two older brothers (all of whom have played pro baseball) but Elizabeth found her calling in volleyball.

A 2007 graduate of Punahou School, Elizabeth lettered four years in volleyball and was named the No. 85 top senior on the prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces list. In addition she was a four-time all-league and three-time all-state performer and helped her Punahou team to state titles in 2003 and 2004.

Watch Elizabeth Ka`aihue today at Kalapaki Joe's at 4pm Hawaii time as the UH Rainbow Wahines take on Penn State at the NCAA Women's Volleyball semifinals in Tampa, Florida.

Meet the Wahines: Dani Mafua

#11 Dani Mafua
Position: S
Height: 5-10
Class: Junior
Hometown: Kapolei, O`ahu
Previous School: Mid-Pacific Institute

Dani Mafua has been the heart of the Wahine volleyball team this season. Following in the footsteps of superstar setter Kanoe Kamaano has been a huge challenge but Dani has shown her team, the fans and her coach that she has what it takes.

"Dani's the reason we've been good," Wahine head coach Dave Shoji says. "I don't think she gets enough credit. She's the reason we can beat good teams, the tempo she creates."

This 2006 Mid-Pac graduate lettered 4 times in volleyball and twice in basketball during her high school years. She was also named the 27th-best senior on the prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces list and given a two-time honorable mention all-state in volleyball.

Tempted at first to head to the mainland for college, Dani had a change of heart that has been critical to the Wahine's success this season. "I think in the back of my head, I always wanted to be a Wahine," she said. "I wanted to play in front of my whole family. That's really a great thing."

Watch Dani Mafua as she takes charge of the Wahine team in today's NCAA Women's Volleyball Semifinals match against Penn State at Kalapaki Joe's, Kauai's premier sports bar.

Meet the Wahines: Kanani Danielson

#5 Kanani Danielson
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 5-10
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Ewa Beach, O`ahu
Previous School: Kamehameha Schools

The only UH player to be named to the AVCA First-team All-America, sophomore Kanani Danielson has accomplished what only few have before her. In addition to the AVCA All-American honors, Danielson was also named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Stanford Regional this past week, posting a 21-kill, 13-dig match in the regional semifinal vs. Illinois (Dec. 11)

The 2008 Kamehameha Schools graduate also had an impressive prep career being named as the No. 5 top senior on the prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces list, three-time state Player of the Year and three-time Gatorade state volleyball Player of the Year. If that doesn't impress you, Kanani also won the state championship in the high jump during her only year of competition in track and field.

Volleyball superstar Kanani Danielson is a force to be reckoned with. Watch her play tomorrow at 4pm at Kalapaki Joe's when the UH Rainbow Wahines take on Penn State in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Semifinals in Tampa, Florida.

Meet the Wahines: Amber Kaufman

#2 Amber Kaufman

Position: Middle Hitter
Height: 6-0
Class: Senior
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Previous School: Branham HS

Six foot middle blocker, Amber Kaufman, is a two sport college athlete named as a two-time All-American and two-time Western Athletic Conference champion for Track & Field in the high jump.

Though she recently has been plagued with a recurring abdominal strain, she's reportedly set to play in tomorrow's match against Penn State.

"There have been nights, and I'd like to see more, where she is virtually unstoppable offensively," Wahine Volleyball coach Dave Shoji says.

"When me and (setter) Dani (Mafua) are connecting, sometimes she just makes me feel untouchable," Kaufman said. "If the ball is out of her hands coming to me, sometimes it's going to be a kill no matter what."

Be sure to keep your eye on senior Amber Kaufman as UH Rainbow Wahines take on Penn State in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Semifinals tomorrow at 4pm Hawaii time at Kalapaki Joe's, Kauai's premier sports bar.

Two Rainbow Wahines Earn AVCA All-America Honors

Congratulations to Kanani Danielson and Aneli Cubi-Otineru for earning AVCA All-America honors.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today that Kanani Danielson, sophomore outside hitter for Wahine volleyball, was selected to the 2009 AVCA Division I First-Team All-America and Aneli Cubi-Otineru, senior outside hitter, was selected to the 2009 AVCA Division I Second-Team All-America.

This is a huge honor for these University of Hawaii athletes. Congratulations girls!

Catch Danielson and Cubi-Otineru tomorrow at 4pm Hawaii time at Kalapaki Joe's where we are televising the UH Rainbow Wahines vs Penn State in the National Women's Volleyball Semifinals.

Let's go bows!

Meet the Wahines: Stephanie Ferrell

#1 Stephanie Ferrell
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 6-1
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Previous School: Locke HS

This sophomore outside hitter has come back from a broken ankle and proven to be a strong asset to the Wahine team.

Of her injury, Ferrell says, “I am very passionate and fiery, and for me to have to sit out and not be able to play was hard, but I did look at the entire situation positively. I’m a very competitive (person) and I love to win and hate to lose.”

Stephanie Ferrell hails from Los Angeles, California where she was born into a family of athletes. Although she is the only volleyball player, her parents and siblings play either basketball or softball. As a Locke High School senior, Stephanie was named the No. 99 top senior on the prepvolleyball.com Senior Aces list.

Watch Stephanie Ferrell tomorrow when the Rainbow Wahine's take on Penn State at the NCAA Women's Volleyball semifinals in Tampa, Florida. The game will be on at 4pm Hawaii time at Kalapaki Joe's, Kauai's premier sports bar with an ocean view.

Meet the Wahines: Aneli Cubi-Otineru

#13 Aneli Cubi-Otineru
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 5-11
Class: Senior
Hometown: Hale`iwa, O`ahu
Previous School: College of Southern Idaho

This 2005 Punahou graduate is now a senior and captain of the Hawaii volleyball team. Riddled with knee and calf pain last week, Aneli pushed through for a win against Michigan with a lot of faith and support from her family.

If anyone knows how to deal with adversity, it's Aneli. After being named Hawaii Prep Player of the Year in her junior year at Punahou, Aneli struggled academically and had to start her career at a junior college before transferring to UH with an AA degree.

Now that she's a senior on her dream team, she says "All the sacrifices have been worth it. Everything seems so perfect."

Watch Aneli Cubi-Otineru in the UH match against Penn State on Thursday, December 17th at 4pm Hawaii time at Kalapaki Joe's, Kauai's premier sports bar.

UH Rainbow Wahines Take on Penn State in the FINAL FOUR

It's been a great week for Hawaii with BJ Penn crushing Diego Sanchez last Saturday night and now the UH Rainbow Wahine Volleyball team is heading to the NCAA Volleyball Semifinals in Tampa, Florida.

The 12th seeded Wahines take on number one seed Penn State on Thursday, December 17th at 4pm Hawaii Time.

Catch all the action at Kalapaki Joe's, Kauai's premier sports bar with an ocean view.

Happy hour specials include:

• 25 cent Wings
• $2 Wontons
• $2 Off Appetizers and Draft Beers
• $2 Bud Light Drafts
• $3 Heineken and Heineken Light
• $5 Mojitos

Come down and help us cheer on the Rainbow Wahines this Thursday!!

Rainbow Wahines Reach Elite Eight!

The UH Rainbow Wahines took a big win against Illinois last night in the NCAA Volleyball Regional Semifinals in Stanford, California.

Tonight the 3rd-ranked Wahines take on the Michigan Wolverines, ranked 16th, after their surprising win over 4th-ranked Stanford last night.

"They're undersized, they're fast, their setter (Lexi Zimmerman) is really, really good," UH coach Dave Shoji said of the Wolverines. "She gets them isolated all over the court. She can set anybody at anytime from anywhere. The other thing is, their serving is unbelievable."

Watch the UH Wahines vs Michigan Wolverines tonight at 6:30 p.m. Hawaii time.

photo: UH Athletics