Chen, Seasiders Hope To Keep At-home Win Streak Going
Figuratively speaking, when it comes to the Pacific West Conference, BYU-Hawaii volleyball standout Shih Ting (Stella) Chen can practically sign her own figure to the league checkbook.
As PacWest Player of the Year each of the past three seasons, nothing less is expected of Chen this fall when she closes out what already has been one of the most decorated careers in the league’s volleyball annals.
She recently was named PacWest Preseason Player of the Year for 2014, in a vote of league coaches.
Chen led the PacWest and ranked second in the nation in NCAA Division II last season with averages of 5.10 kills and 5.69 points per set.
She was also a Daktronics All-American pick last season and was chosen 2013-14 PacWest Female Athlete of the Year by the conference office in the spring.
BYUH’s Erh Fang Hsu joined Chen on the Preseason All-PacWest team, while Seasider head coach Mona Ah Hoy was selected as PacWest Preseason Coach of the Year by her peers.
Last season, Ah Hoy led the Seasiders to a fourth-straight PacWest title, an NCAA West Regional title, and a runner-up finish at NCAA Division II championships.
She was a longtime Kahuku head coach before moving on to BYUH, having led the Red Raiders to four OIA championships as well as the 2002 state title.
BYUH was picked to finish second in the conference in the coaches’ poll, even though it earned the most first-place votes (7).
Point Loma was selected to finish first in what will be its first season as a sanctioned NCAA program.
The Seasiders were to open last weekend with matches versus both Daemen and Florida Tech at George Q. Cannon Center.
BYUH is in Denver this week competing in the Colorado Premier Challenge, where it will play against Central Missouri, Minnesota Duluth, Concordia Saint Paul and Tampa.
The team returns home next week to play Chaminade at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Other home dates in Laie include Hawaii-Hilo Sept. 26), Dixie State Oct. 16, Cal Baptist Oct. 17, Point
Loma Oct. 18, Holy Names Oct. 24, Fresno Pacific Oct. 25, Notre Dame de Namur Oct. 31, Academy of Art Nov. 1 and Hawaii Pacific University Nov. 13.
BYUH entered its home opener with Daemen late last week having won 39 straight matches at Cannon Center, including a 15-0 mark last season.
The Seasiders haven’t lost at home since Sept. 10, 2010, when they were swept by Seattle Pacific.
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