Congrats to Hartong, Bonham Award winner

University of Hawai’i women’s volleyball player Emily Hartong and men’s basketball player Davis Rozitis were the recipients of the 2014 Jack Bonham Award in recognition of their outstanding performances on and off the playing field. The announcement was made Tuesday night at ‘Ahahui Koa ‘Anuenue’s H Awards at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Other volleyball players to have received this are Kanani Danielson 2012, Aneli Cubi-Otineru 2010, Kanoe Kamana’o 207, Melissa Villaroman 2004, Angelica Ljungquist 1997, Tita Ahuna 1988, Sue Hlavenka 1986, Bonnie Gouveia 1980 and Marilyn Moniz-Kaho’ohanohan 1976 (when only one award given). In 1979, UH started giving the award to male and female athletes.

The award is given annually to the top male and female senior student-athlete who “best exemplifies the ideals for which Jack Bonham stood for in the areas of athletic excellence, academic achievement, public service, leadership and character.”

Hartong was a three-time All-American and three-time first team all-conference honoree, and will go down as one of the finest players to don a Rainbow Wahine uniform. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native was also twice named Big West Player of the Year and leaves UH ranked eighth all-time with 1,494 kills, a remarkable statistic considering she spent her first two seasons as a middle hitter. Her impact also extends beyond the court. She is an active participant in numerous community service projects including speaking to children and sharing her volleyball knowledge with club coaching and youth clinics. Hartong was a three-time academic all-conference selection and will graduate in the spring with a degree in communications.


“Emily was a team captain her last two seasons and it was her tremendous work ethic that inspired her teammates throughout her four-year career,” head coach Dave Shoji said. “She was never late to or missed a practice and when asked to change positions after her first two years, she did so for the good of the team. She was a leader off the court as well, encouraging her teammates to be better and organizing team activities. She’s committed to doing her best in everything that she does.”

Considered the most prestigious award in UH athletics, the Jack Bonham Award is named for the late assistant athletics director who was killed in 1974 in a plane crash in America Samoa. Bonham was returning to the islands from New Zealand where he was on a recruiting trip at the British Commonwealth Games.

COMMENTS

  1. Ron April 30, 2014 6:46 am

    She is just a wonderful young lady. She has made Hawaii a better place to live just by her being here.


  2. Hot April 30, 2014 8:26 am

    Yep. Emily Hartong is amazing.


  3. Cubicle1126 April 30, 2014 8:51 am

    Congrats to Hartong and Rozitis !!

    Any word on Hartong’s recovery from surgery? I’d like to see her start making some dents in a pro league somewhere, and hopefully some time with the national team. 🙂


  4. Brandon April 30, 2014 9:01 am

    Hartong is such a class act, and she will be one of the girls I will miss the most, out of the entire time ive started watching volleyball (2003). She is just so humble and came in ready to work. She will be missed by dave and the fans.
    Like cindy said, shes one of the best to wear the wahine jersey. 3 time AA in two different positions, started every match since she came to UH (correct me if im wrong), took up a leadership role when danielson left.


  5. setaone April 30, 2014 11:57 am

    Due to a cancelled flight, the Sandbows are taking a 9 hour bus ride!


  6. Kazu April 30, 2014 2:57 pm

    Congratulations Hartong.Imagine if she was an O/H from the start,she could have 2000 plus kills. Shows that hard work pays off.Parents must be proud.


  7. roofer68 April 30, 2014 4:32 pm

    I will miss Emily for her humbling personality, which is an exact image of her parents Bill and Julie. And sadly their presence at the matches along with the gang, Goodman’s grandparents, the Uiatos, the Lelepalis, and now the Kawamuras.


  8. Cindy Luis April 30, 2014 5:26 pm

    5. they were expected to arrive this morning in Texas then fly.
    very much unexpected.but one of the reasons Wong set up the travel the way he did was in anticipating things such as this.


  9. WhyWhat April 30, 2014 8:11 pm

    So it appears Adolpho will be playing volleyball her senior year.


  10. WhyWhat April 30, 2014 8:11 pm

    ….volleyball only her senior year.


  11. FormerlyWarriorfan April 30, 2014 8:26 pm

    She’s probably redshirting from basketball next year, still see her on a basketball scholarship.


  12. Cindy Luis April 30, 2014 8:39 pm

    Don’t know. depends on what Beeman wants.


  13. formerlywarriorfan April 30, 2014 8:41 pm

    I like the possibility of Adolpho redshirting from basketball and that way being volleyball only one year and then basketball only the next.

    Was there anything said about Huff playing for the basketball team?


  14. Setaone April 30, 2014 9:12 pm

    IF Aldopho is red shirting basketball next year can she still be in a basketball scholarship?


  15. tako May 1, 2014 6:05 am

    After seeing Kalei struggle in both sports this past year something had to give. However, even if she red shirts in basketball it’ll be tough for her to take the floor the following year especially when Beeman recruited two tall centers. I’m guessing this is the best decision for her to make a significant difference.


  16. Cindy Luis May 1, 2014 11:14 am

    IF she is redshirting in basketball, she is still on scholarship with that sport.
    have heard nothing about Huff.


  17. setaone May 1, 2014 12:34 pm

    i hope that Kalei spends her fifth year fully training with the basketball team. One thing that I remember Laura Beeman saying about Kalei (and Stephanie Ricketts), they brought a winning mentality to the team. She liked having players that “won” on the team cause they knew how winning felt.

    Man, I hope Laura Beeman sticks around…..


  18. yume May 1, 2014 3:18 pm

    On Warrior Network blog, comments on Beeman’s interview on Sports Animal yesterday. Of note she says she has no thoughts of leaving, Kalei will redshirt this coming season, and no mention of Huff. Might be late news to some here, but………….


  19. Cindy Luis May 1, 2014 3:54 pm

    Brian McInnis also had a story in the paper today


  20. haleiwacrossfitter May 1, 2014 4:51 pm

    Ok, am I the only one seeing this? Even if she does redshirt in bball this upcoming year..that has no effect on her vball and her being better this year at vball. Unless of course in previous years she played basketball in the summer instead of volleyball??

    But this is Kalei’s sr year in volleyball, so if there was ever really a time for her to redshirt to be better at volleyball would have been this past basketball season, that way she could concentrate on vball this past spring instead of playing basketball. THAT would have prepped her for a better senior season this upcoming year.

    Redshirting next year basketball has no effect on her upcoming vball season as she will only be playing vball anyway this fall. It’s not like she was going back and forth during previous vball season with basketball.

    Am I missing something here on why people think her redshirting bball next spring will help her vball this fall??


  21. FormerlyWarriorfan May 1, 2014 4:55 pm

    Umm please point out the messages saying skipping basketball next year will help her volleyball?


  22. haleiwacrossfitter May 1, 2014 6:43 pm

    There aren’t any here, but it was mentioned previously. And no, I’m not going to go hunting for them…I got better things to do.


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