University of Hawaii at Hilo's Hillary Hurley was named the Pacific West Conference Volleyball Player of the Year and Rachel Thornquist was named Volleyball Newcomer of the Year as announced by the PacWest Conference today.

Hurley, a junior middle-hitter from Anderson, Calif., was also a first-team all-conference selection, a PacWest Player of the Week (Oct. 10) and a five-time PacWest honor roll selection. She led the conference with 4.71 kills per set which was also second in NCAA Division II in kills per set.

Hurley was also the 2007 PacWest Freshman of the Year.

Thornquist, a junior outside hitter from Crystal Lake, Ill., was the conference's first Player of the Week when she led the Vulcans to a 3-1 week in September by topping the conference in hitting with a thundering .405 average.

Selected to the second team were seniors Katie Swenson and Kawena Cubi-Otineru.

Swenson, a setter, led the conference with 10.82 assists per set and was 18th in NCAA Division II in assists per set. She was a four-time PacWest honor roll selection.

Cubi-Otineru, an outside hitter, was a two-time PacWest honor roll selection. She was second on the team with 219 kills.

Senior outside hitter Leilani Ramsey, a senior from Milton, Wash., received honorable mention recognition.