IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i junior forward Amber Gilbert earned preseason All-Big West honors Monday while the Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish seventh as a team in the preseason poll.
 
A first-team All-Big West selection a year ago, Gilbert led the team and finished tied for third in the conference with seven goals. She became the first UH player to score at least seven goals in a season since 2019 and ranked second in the Big West in goals scored per match (0.438).
 
Gilbert has started all 31 matches over the past two seasons and heads into the season as the team's active career leader in both goals scored (11) and points (24). The Mililani High School graduate has earned Big West All-Freshman honors, CSC Academic All-District honors and Big West Academic All-Conference recognition in her career in addition to her first-team All-Big West honors last year.
 
The Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish seventh as a team in the preseason poll coming off of their second ever appearance in the Big West postseason tournament. UH also ended the regular season last year in seventh, and played in the conference postseason for the first time since 2019.
 
Hawai'i opens the 2024 season on Thursday against Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium as a part of the OUTRIGGER Kickoff.