IRVINE, Calif. – A record five University of Hawai'i men's volleyball players were selected to the All-Big West first team as voted by the league's six head coaches.
 
Opposite Rado Parapunov, outside hitter Stijn van Tilburg, setter Joe Worsley, middle blocker Patrick Gasman, and libero Gage Worsley were among the 14-person first team. UH had the most first-team honorees.
 
All five were recognized by the conference last season with van Tilburg, Joe Worsley and Gasman as repeat first team picks. Parapunov was honorable mention last season while Gage Worsley was named to the all-freshman team.
 
Long Beach State's Kyle Ensing was picked as the Player of the Year and UC Santa Barbara's Ryan Wilcox earned the Freshman of the Year nod. LBSU's Alan Knipe was the league's Coach of the Year for the second straight year.
 
Last season, UH had four players selected to the first team.
 
Parapunov, a five-time conference player of the week, averages a team-best 4.29 kills per set, hitting .440 with 37 aces and 0.94 blocking average. The Sofia, Bulgaria native ranks among the nation's leaders in points (5.28/2^nd), kills (4.29/6^th), hitting percentage (.440/5^th), and aces (0.474/8^th).
 
Van Tilburg earned his third first-team all-conference selection (first team all-MPSF in 2017). The senior from Amsterdam, Netherlands is averaging 3.88 kills per set with 20 aces and ranks second nationally in hitting percentage (.484)
 
Worsley is directing an offense that leads the nation in three categories – hitting percentage (.445), kills per set (14.27) and assists per set (13.37). The Moraga, Calif., native is averaging a nation's-best 11.36 assists per set.
 
Brother Gage Worsley is No. 4 nationally in digs per set (2.62) with 11 double-figure dig matches and a reception percentage of .957.
 
Gasman is the nation's leader in blocking with a 1.45 per set average. The Clovis, Calif., native is also averaging 1.77 kills per set, hitting .494.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will host the Big West Tournament this week at the Stan Sheriff Center. The quarterfinal round begins on Thursday however UH has a bye into Friday's semifinals, where they will face the winner of UC Irvine and UC San Diego.