IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West Conference handed out its all-conference awards for beach volleyball as voted by the league coaches with the University of Hawai'i taking home numerous honors. Four pairs gained all-league recognition, while Amber Igiede was named Freshman of the Year.
 
The No. 1 pair of Igiede and Brooke Van Sickle , the No. 2 pair of Pani Napoleon and Jaime Santer and the No. 4  pair of Ilihia Huddleston and Kaylee Glagau were named to the all-conference first team. Meanwhile, Anna Maidment and Sofia Russo earned honorable mention after holding down the No. 5 flight all year for UH.

Napoleon, who was named to the second team in 2019, and Russo, an honorable mention two years ago, are repeat honorees. Meanwhile, Igiede, Van Sickle, Santer, Huddleston, Glagau, and Maidment are all first-time award winners after completing their first full collegiate seasons.
 
Igiede achieved the league's top freshman honors while remarkably playing her first competitive season ever in the sport. The indoor crossover and native of Baton Rouge, La., played primarily at the top two flights all year, the majority with Van Sickle with whom she won 12 of her final 13 matches with to finish 16-7 overall. It is the fifth straight Freshman of the Year award for UH. Igiede joins Emily Maglio (2016), Morgan Martin ('17) Lea Monkhouse ('18) and teammate Pani Napoleon ('19) in achieving the distinction.
 
UH concluded the season 17-10 overall and advanced to the Big West Championship finals for the fifth straight time.