University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Vulcan soccer standout Alyssa Padron and basketball star Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones are the Pepsi Athletes of the Week.
Padron had an assist in UH Hilo’s first goal and then scored twice in the second half in a 60-second span. Her scores helped pad the lead for an eventual 5-1 win over the Hawaiʻi Pacific University Sharks that translated into a co-conference championship and the program’s first-ever playoff berth. Padron, despite missing four matches this season, finished third on the team in scoring with three goals and four assists.
Tait-Jones earned the honor for his play in five games last week. He had 26 and 24 points in a pair of wins over Simpson University, also pulling down eight and nine rebounds. In three official games this season, Tait-Jones is averaging 21 points per game, eight rebounds a contest and has converted 12 of 15 free throw attempts.
