LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Hawai‘i women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji has been named 2009 American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I West Region Coach of the Year, it was announced today.

In addition, four UH volleyball players earned AVCA All-West Region honors.

Outside hitters Kanani Danielson and Aneli Cubi-Otineru, middle Amber Kaufman, and setter Dani Mafua all were selected to the AVCA All-West Region.

This is the second straight selection for Cubi-Otineru and Mafua, while Kaufman was an honorable mention selection last season. Danielson was the All-West Region freshman of the year last season, earning her first All-West Region team this year.

Danielson, the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, leads the team with a 4.23 kills per set average, hitting .337.

Cubi-Otineru, an all-WAC first team player for the third straight season, averaged 3.11 kills per set, while hitting .305. She is also two kills shy of reaching the 1,000 kill milestone in three seasons.

Kaufman ranks fourth in the country in hitting percentage at .434 on the year, while averaging 2.47 kills per set.

Mafua led UH to a .316 hitting percentage, ranking third in the country, while averaging 11.78 assists per set, ranking 11th in the country.

Shoji will represent the region on the 2009 AVCA National Coach of the Year ballot. The awards will be presented at the 2009 jostens Coaches Honors Luncheon in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 17 at the 2009 Annual Convention.

Shoji earned his 1,000th win on Oct. 17, becoming just the second Division I volleyball coach to do so.

The Rainbow Wahine face Illinois Friday in the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal.