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2023 BW Preseason Poll

Women's Volleyball

Hawai‘i Picked to Finish First In BW; Three Garner BW Preseason Honors

IRVINE, Calif.—The three-time defending Big West champion Univeristy of Hawai'i women's volleyball team was picked first in the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll as voted by the conference's 11 head coaches. Three Rainbow Wahine—Amber Igiede, Kate Lang and Caylen Alexander—earned spots on the Preseason All-Big West Team.
 
Hawai'i received 10 first place votes while garnering 100 total points. The teams ranked No.'s 2-4 were separated by just two points with UC Santa Barbara coming in second with 83, Long Beach State was voted third with 82 points and received the last first place vote. Cal Poly was picked fourth with 81 points.
 
The Big West's reigning Player of the Year (Igiede), Setter of the Year (Lang) and Freshman of the Year (Alexander) were selected to the BW Preseason Coaches' Team. Igiede, a senior middle blocker leads the Rainbow Wahine into the 2023 season. Last year, she led UH with 406 kills, 3.79 kills/set, and 138 total blocks. Lang dished out 1,102 assists while averaging 10.30 assists/set to lead the UH offense. Alexander, who was a true freshman last season, played in all 29 matches and put down 295 kills averaging 2.78 kills/set while leading the 'Bows with 33 service aces.
 
Hawai'i opens the 2023 season hosting the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic from August 25-27. UH opens with Northwestern on opening night then will take on 13th-ranked San Diego on Saturday and No. 9 Oregon on Sunday. This Saturday, they will host their second annual "Open Practice/Green-White Scrimmage" beginning at 1:00 p.m. HT in the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Admission is FREE but fans must enter through the arena's security gate.

 
2023 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank Team Points
1. Hawai'i    100 (10)
2. UC Santa Barbara 83
3. Long Beach State 82 (1)
4. Cal Poly 81
5. UC Davis 61
6. UC Irvine 54
7. UC San Diego  42
8. Cal State Bakersfield 33
9. Cal State Fullerton 32
10. CSUN 27
11. UC Riverside 10
First-place votes in parentheses

2023 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Team                                              
Student-Athlete Year Position School Hometown
Caylen Alexander So. Outside Hitter Hawai'i Alpharetta, Ga.
Amber Igiede Sr. Middle Blocker Hawai'i Baton Rouge, La.
Kate Lang Jr. Setter Hawai'i Keller, Texas
Zayna Meyer R-So. Setter Long Beach State Wheaton, Ill.
Michelle Ohwobete Sr. Outside Hitter UC Santa Barbara Oakland, Calif.
Macall Peed Sr. Libero UC Santa Barbara San Diego, Calif.
Tommi Stockham R-Jr. Outside Hitter Cal Poly Las Vegas, Nev.
Olivia Utterback Jr.     Opposite UC Davis Plainfield, Ind.
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Players Mentioned

Amber Igiede

#3 Amber Igiede

MB
6' 3"
Sophomore
Kate Lang

#10 Kate Lang

S
5' 10"
Freshman
Caylen Alexander

#17 Caylen Alexander

OH
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Amber Igiede

#3 Amber Igiede

6' 3"
Sophomore
MB
Kate Lang

#10 Kate Lang

5' 10"
Freshman
S
Caylen Alexander

#17 Caylen Alexander

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH