IRVINE, Calif. – For the second consecutive year, University of Hawai'i senior opposite
Rado Parapunov was named the Big West Conference's Player of the Year as selected by the league's head coaches.
One week after he was selected first-team all-conference for the third time, the Sofia, Bulgaria native became the Big West's first repeat winner. In addition, he is just the second UH player to win two conference player of the year awards joining Costas Theocharidis, who was the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's honoree in 2001 and 2003.
Parapunov led the Big West in kills (4.41 avg.) and points (5.24) and ranked fifth in blocks (0.90), sixth in aces (0.32), seventh in hitting percentage (.340), and 12
th in digs (1.56). He earned the conference's player of the week award five times this season and a record 15 times in his career.
The Coach of the Year award went to UC Santa Barbara's Rick McLaughlin, who guided the Gauchos to the Big West Tournament title. Long Beach State's Clarke Godbold was named Freshman of the Year.
Parapunov led the Warriors to the Big West regular season title with a perfect 10-0 mark. On Sunday, Hawai'i received the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championships for the second straight tournament.
The senior has also won three AVCA National Player of the Week awards this season, becoming the first player in history to do so and is looking to become UH's first National Player of the Year since Theocharidis in 2003.
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