In a season of firsts for the UH Hilo women's soccer team, another top shelf award was added to the list today.

Daelenn Tokunaga (Waipahu, Hawai'i/Pearl City HS) was named the Pacific West Conference Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year, selected by the conference's sports information directors. Tokunaga is UH Hilo's first-ever women's soccer honoree, and just third overall since the trophies were first handed out in 2009.

Tokunaga, who was also named the PacWest Player of the Year last fall, carries a 3.83 grade point average through the spring semester in her major of Administration of Justice. 

The Waipahu (Pearl City HS) and University of Hawai`i transfer helped lead the Vulcans to a 12-4 record and their first PacWest title (co-champs with Point Loma). Coach Gene Okamura's team also advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.

The 5-foot-7 junior led the PacWest and NCAA West Region in scoring. She had 13 goals in 16 contests and also had three assists for 30 total points. Seven of her goals were match-winners.

In addition to being selected by the league's coaches as the PacWest Player of the Year, Tokunaga was also a First Team All-PacWest pick and a D2CCA First Team All-West Region selection. She was also named a First Team Scholar All-American by the United Soccer Coaches Association.

Tokunaga joins fellow honoree Bria Beale (2021-22 Volleyball) and Olivia Jarvis (2020-21 Cross Country) as the only other UH Hilo student-athletes to win a PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

To see the complete PacWest scholar-athlete list, click here. PacWest Announces 2022 Scholar-Athletes of the Year - The Pacwest Conference