PacWest preseason honor for Hilo’s Hurley

Hawaii-Hilo senior Hillary Hurley has been selected the Pacific West Conference preseason player of the year in basketball after a vote of league coaches.

Hurley, of Anderson, Calif., was a PacWest first-team selection last season after averaging 14.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

Hurley, a 6-foot-2 forward, received seven of nine first-place votes, while Hawaii Pacific’s Mana Hopkins and Dixie State’s Sheila Adams each received one.

Hopkins and Sea Warriors teammate Paris Gravely also were named to the first team.

Grand Canyon was predicted to win the 10-team conference. HPU was picked fourth, Brigham Young-Hawaii sixth, Hawaii-Hilo seventh and Chaminade 10th.

Academy of Art outlasts HPU in volleyball

Leinani Keanini had 16 kills and Holli Kaina added 15 as Academy of Art beat Hawaii Pacific 20-25, 25-17, 28-26, 10-25, 15-12 in a Pacific West Conference match Thursday night at St. Andrew’s Priory gym.

Keanini is from Kailua and Kaina is from Honolulu.

Sanoe Recca had 16 kills, Courtney Curran added 14 and Haley Doerfler had 12 for the Sea Warriors. Pihana Kea had 49 assists.

Academy of Art improved to 9-15 and 5-8; HPU dropped to 14-9 and 9-5.