IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University's Noel "Tita" Saunders is this week's PacWest Conference Softball Player of the Week for her strong play last weekend.
 
Saunders, a 5-2 junior from Pearl City, Hawai 'i/Pearl City, helped the Sharks to a pair of wins last week, including a win over Western Oregon, which is in first place in the GNAC, and a non-conference victory over Hawai'i Hilo.
 
Saunders opened the week with a 5-for-5 performance against the Wolves to lead the Sharks to their fifth win this season. She had two doubles and three singles, driving in two runs and scoring four times in the victory. The performance boosted her batting average for the season up to .364. Saunders did not strike out all week and safely reached base seven times with base-hits. She went 1-for-4 in the second game against the Wolves with another RBI and her fifth run scored of the doubleheader. Against UH Hilo, Saunders went 1-for-3 in the second game to earn a split for the Sharks. She now has 14 hits this season in 13 games.
 
Joining Saunders with weekly honors is Azusa Pacific's Sydnie Sahhar as PacWest Softball Pitcher of the Week.
 
The Sharks have one doubleheader this week, opening conference play against UH Hilo on Saturday at Howard Okita Field. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.