A better season statistically meant little for Kanoe Kamana'o when it came to selection to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America teams.

The University of Hawai'i junior setter, who was named to the first team last season, was picked to the third team yesterday.

UH senior middle blocker Victoria Prince was named to the second team for the second year in a row.

The selections were made by a committee made up of about eight Division I coaches.

"I am surprised about her (Kamana'o's) selection to the third team," UH coach Dave Shoji said. "I felt like she had another great year. All of her stats were better, including team stats, so I think it's a little disappointing."

Kamana'o is the only setter in the country averaging more than 2 1/2 digs, 1 block and 13 1/2 assists — among the top 15 nationally — a game. She collected 15 double-doubles in a season that ended at 27-7, in last week's NCAA regional semifinal loss to Missouri.

Kamana'o, of Iolani School, got top honors when UH finished 30-1 last season. In 2003, she was third team, as well as the national freshman of the year.

"She's not the type of person that's going to worry about the selection," Shoji said. "She does not have an ego. ... She's a total team player."

Kamana'o has been the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year the past two seasons and earned academic All-America honors.

"She's a real humble person and that's pretty unusual in a setter," said Shoji, a former setter. "A lot of setters like to take credit, but I've never heard her say that she was responsible. She's always giving credit to the passers and the hitters."

Prince, from Kennewick, Wash., led the Rainbow Wahine in every scoring statistic and ranks in the top 20 nationally in hitting (.402) and blocking (1.56). She set a UH career record with a hitting percentage of .407.

"She had another great year and is quite deserving of this recognition," Shoji said.

Despite being among the smallest at their positions, Kamana'o, listed at 5 feet 8 but truly 5-6, and Prince, slightly under 6 feet, formed one of the least intimidating, but most imposing blocks in the country.

"They help each other get good numbers," Shoji said. "Hitters fall asleep against those two. They don't expect them to be there. With Kanoe, it's just blocking technique. Victoria is just fast; she closes the gap a lot."

Prince came to UH with a big blocking resume in the Pac-10 after transferring from Washington State. She immediately became UH's premier offensive threat with foot speed that made her nearly impossible to block and a potent jump serve.

"I'm amazed at her consistency on the jump serve," Shoji said. "It is a very risky serve and her arm swing is not the purest, but for some reason it is amazingly effective and consistent."

Prince was Hawai'i's best scorer from the service line and front row.

"Prince is probably one of the best slide hitters in the country," Nevada coach Devin Scruggs said. "She can hit the 'one' (set), she can hit the slide, she can block, she's got an even temperament. Even when she doesn't play well she is still effective."

Kamana'o saw yet another side to Prince: "She is someone you always want on your side of the court," the setter said earlier this season.

The NCAA final four begins play today. UH has been eliminated at its doorstep each of the past two years. Last week, it was in four games to Missouri that ended UH's 21-match winning streak.

"The loss will stay with me for a little bit," Shoji said. "I understand we had a really good year; that part should be what I should think about."