[[i:353:n:l]]Hilo, Hawaii – Michael Higa and Fabiane Seben have been selected the 2007-08 University of Hawaii at Hilo Athletes of the Year while the men’s golf squad was selected the Team of the Year.

Higa, a senior infielder, has a .408 batting average on the Vulcan baseball team. He has seven doubles, a pair of homeruns and 19 RBI. His batting average is 40-points higher than any Vulcan since the program moved to the NCAA Division I level in 1994. He was also selected the 2006-07 Athlete of the Year.

Seben, a sophomore middle blocker, was selected Pacific West Conference Player of the Year and first-team Division II Pacific Region. She ranked third in points per game (4.48) and led the league in overall scoring with 434 points. She ranked second in the PacWest in blocks per game (1.16), fifth in hitting percentage (.307), ninth in kills per game (3.21) and fourth in service aces per game (0.57).

Men’s golf captured the Pacific West Conference title.

Earning Vulcan Academic/Athletes of the Year recognition were Sophie Milam (soccer) and Rocky Jorgensen (basketball).

Selected as the most dedicated athletes by their teammates were Jesse Yamashita (baseball), John Smith (basketball), Leesa Deniz (basketball), Brian Yannutz (cross country), Kari Andrew (cross country), Ryan Felix (golf), Kiilani Matsuyoshi (golf), George Ichimaru (soccer), Jacquelyn LaRocque (soccer), Brittany Dock (softball), Aaron Tada (tennis), Justine Abella (tennis) and Eleu Novikoff (volleyball).