IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University had two players selected to PacWest Conference Softball weekly awards as shortstop Tiana Cantero-Kawelo was chosen as the PacWest Player of the Week and outfielder Noel Saunders was honored as PacWest Freshman of the Week for their play last week.
 
Cantero-Kawelo, a senior from Wahiawa, Hawai'i/Leilehua, helped the Sharks to four wins last week as the Sharks improved to 5-6 on the season with two wins over nationally-ranked teams, beating No. 17 Dixie State on Saturday and had a five-game hitting streak during the week, going 10-for-19 during that span. Cantero-Kawelo also picked up four stolen bases and came around to score five times. She is now batting .414 on the season with a league-leading five stolen bases.
 
Saunders, a freshman from Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City, recorded eight hits in seven games in a busy week for HPU. She scored five runs and drove in another five as the Sharks went 4-4 in Las Vegas and Utah last week. Against Chadron State, Saunders went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, a walk and two runs. Her other extra-base hit came against Central Washington as she finished that game 1-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base. Saunders is batting .313 on the season as she has helped the Sharks win five games to start her collegiate career.
 
Joining the HPU pair with a weekly award is Azusa Pacific's Racquel Espinoza who was tabbed the PacWest Pitcher of the Week.
 
The Sharks (5-6) open the home season on Sunday when they host a non-conference doubleheader against Pacific (Ore.) at Howard Okita Field in Kaneohe. First pitch is scheduled for noon