Taylor Akana   12
	Class: Junior Hometown: Kaneohe, Hawaii High School: Kamehameha Height: 5-7 Position: OH Birthdate: 06/11/1992

GENERAL: Preseason MAAC Player of the Year...Explosive talent who has already emerged as one of top all-around players in the region...Possesses great volleyball I.Q. and maturity beyond her years...Adds value to the front and back row...Exceptional vertical and powerful swing more than make up for her diminutive size...Powerful jump serve...Phenomenal student in the classroom...Was one of the top high school players in the state of Hawaii.

2011: MAAC Offensive Player of the Year...All-MAAC First Team...Led MAAC and ranked 47th nationally with 3.99 kills per set...Posted double figure kills in 23 of 28 matches, and 20 or more kills seven times...Joined 30-kill club with 32 kills (32-10-75) in four-set win at Rider (9/18)...Had double figure digs in 19 of 28 matches, and 20 or more digs twice...Topped team with 16 double-doubles...Had 20 kills and 20 digs in season-opening five-set triumph over Youngstown State (8/26)...Posted 28 kills and 21 digs in five-set home loss to Canisius (10/8)...Had 868 total receptions and just 43 errors (.950)...Third on team with 29 aces.

2010: All-MAAC Second Team...Led the MAAC and ranked 12^th nationally with 4.48 kills per set...Her 457 kills ranked sixth all-time in program history and 4.48 kills per set were fourth best...Played in 28 matches and 102 sets...Registered 10 kills or more a team-best 21 times, and had 20 kills or more a team-best 10 times...Posted 30 kills in five-set loss at Loyola (10/2)...Second on team with 328 digs and 3.22 digs/set....Had 24 kills and 24 digs in touch 3-2 loss at MAAC Champion Niagara...Her 14 double-doubles were tops on the team.

BEFORE SIENA: 2009: Helped Kamehameha capture its fifth consecutive HHSAA state title with 19-kill effort in dramatic comeback win over rival Punahou in Championship Match...Named MVP of State Division I Tournament...Named Honolulu Advertiser First Team Division 1 All State Team...Ranked #2 of Hawaii's Fab-15 Players by the Honolulu Star Bulletin...Selected to the Prep Volleyball Senior Ace List 101+ and Defensive Dandies Second Team...Named KHON2 News Athlete of the Week following State Championship...2008: Guided Kamehameha to State Championship and Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) title...Named to Honolulu Adviser Division 1 All-Tournament Team and Second Team Division 1 All-State...Received the OC16 (Local TV Channel) Impact Player Award as a junior...Named to the Honolulu Star Bulletin Fab-15...USAV High Performance GYA 2 White Libero...2007: Member of HHSAA Volleyball State Championship team as a sophomore... Kamehameha also again won the ILH and finished third in the Durango High School Fall Classic Tournament (Nevada) and won the Ann Kang Invitational Girls Volleyball Tournament (Hawaii).

PERSONAL/COMMUNITY: Born June 11, 1992...Daughter of Chad Miyamura and Lynelle Akana...A marketing management major with a 3.85 GPA entering sophomore season...Lists beach volleyball, ceramics and photography as outside interests... Chose Siena because of the successful history of the volleyball program, the welcoming people and atmosphere, the beautiful campus, and the smaller size of the student body...Very active member of hometown community, volunteering for: Palolo District Park Volleyball Clinic for Underprivileged Youths (2009), Lokahi Giving Tree Christmas (2008), Kamehameha Summer Schools: Sports and Activities Teacher's Aide (2006-2007) and rebuilding fishponds and restoring taro patches (2006-2010).

COACH PIERRE SAYS: "Taylor is our go-to player, and we will rely heavily on her this season. She understands the game very well, and has worked hard to improve the few weaknesses in her game. We have been practicing with her on cutting down her errors, contacting the ball higher and taking fewer risks. She is doing these things, and her passing and defense has improved. If she continues to develop, she will be an elite player, and one of the top hitters Siena has ever had."

GETTING TO KNOW TAYLOR:

Nickname: Tay

The best thing I did this summer was: Beach & Surf

My favorite movie: Pirates of the Caribbean

My favorite actor/actress: Ashton Kutcher, Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba

My favorite class: Math

My favorite hobby: Beach Volleyball & Shopping

My favorite singer: Beyonce

My favorite food: Prime Rib and Sushi

My favorite flavor of ice cream: Coffee & Green Tea

My favorite color: Ocean Blue

Women's Volleyball

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