IRVINE, Calif.--The two-time defending Big West champion University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team was picked to finish first in the 2022 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll as voted by the conference's 11 head coaches. The Rainbow Wahine edged out UC Santa Barbara by the slimmest of margins, one first-place vote to be selected as the 2022 league favorites. In the 10 seasons since rejoining the Big West in 2012 (the BWC did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19), UH has been voted to finish first eight times—including the last two.

Hawaii, who has won four of the last six Big West titles, received six out of the 11 BWC first-place votes for a total of 96 points. The Gauchos garnered five first place votes and tallied a total of 94 points. Cal Poly came in third with 79 points with Long Beach State close behind with 75.
 
On Monday, the Big West also announced their 2022 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. Hawaii's two returning all-Big West first team players, Amber Igiede and Kate Lang, both were selected to the elite squad. Igiede, a 6-3 junior middle blocker, led the 'Bows and finished fourth in the Big West with 316 kills and a .388 hitting percentage while coming in third with 135 total blocks. She also recorded 113 digs and was one of two Rainbow Wahine to start all 30 matches. Lang, UH's sophomore setter, concluded her rookie season atop the Big West standings averaging 10.36 assists per set while dishing out 901 total assists. She finished with 12 double-doubles and issued 50+ assissts on three occasions.
 
For the first time since 2005 and just the ninth time in program history, the Rainbow Wahine opens its season on the road. This week, the 'Bows head to College Station, Texas to compete in the high-octane Texas A&M Invitational (August 26-28). The will take on host Texas A&M, No. 6 Pitt, and No. 25 San Diego. 

2022 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	Team	Points (1st Place)
1.	Hawai'i	96 (6)
2.	UC Santa Barbara	94 (5)
3.	Cal Poly	79
4.	Long Beach State	75
5.	UC Irvine	61
6.	CSU Bakersfield	47
7.	UC Davis	46
8.	UC San Diego	37
9.	Cal State Fullerton	36
10.	CSUN	24
11.	UC Riverside	10

2022 All-Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Team

Player	Yr.	Pos	School	Hometown
Maia Dvoracek	Sr.	OPP	Cal Poly	Truckee, Calif.
Amber Igiede	Jr.	MB	Hawai'i	Baton Rouge, La.
Katie Kennedy	Jr.	OH/OPP	Long Beach State	Hood River, Ore.
Kate Lang	So.	S	Hawai'i	Keller, Texas
Zayna Meyer	R-Fr.	S	Long Beach State	Wheaton, Ill.
Onye Ofoegbu	Jr.	MB	UC Irvine	Cerritos, Calif.
Tommi Stockham	R-So.	OH	Cal Poly	Las Vegas, Nevada
Deni Wilson	Sr.	MB	UC Santa Barbara	Los Angeles, Calif.