HONOLULU — Two members of the University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team received preseason honors from the Big West and the Rainbow Wahine placed second in the conference's coaches poll released on Wednesday.
 
Senior setter Kate Lang and junior outside hitter Caylen Alexander were voted to the 2024 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Team, both drawing preseason recognition for the second straight season.
 
Lang enters her senior season as a three-time All-Big West selection. She made the all-conference first team in 2021 and '22 and was voted to the second team last year. As a junior, she topped the Big West with 1,229 total assists and an average of 10.50 per set. She led the 'Bows with 300 digs (2.556 per set) and posted 14 double-doubles and earned eight Big West Setter of the Week awards.
 
Alexander was an All-Big West honorable mention selection last season and ranked second on the team and sixth in the conference with 3.10 kills per set. She recorded double-digit kills in 16 matches and posted eight double-doubles.
 
Lang and Alexander were selected to train with the USA Volleyball Women's National Team Open Program in the offseason, and Lang was later named to the Women's Collegiate National Team.
 
As a team, the Rainbow Wahine received three first-place votes and tallied 85 points in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. Cal Poly topped the poll of the conference's 11 coaches with five first-place votes and 94 points. Long Beach State (two first-place votes) placed third followed by UC Santa Barbara (one first-place vote).
 
The 'Bows went 14-4 in Big West play last season before sweeping through the inaugural Big West Championship to claim the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. UH advanced to the second round in the program's 30^th straight NCAA appearance and 41^st overall and closed the season at 24-9.
 
The Rainbow Wahine open the 2024 season on Aug. 30 against SMU in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. UH will also face San Diego on Sept. 1 to cap the season's opening weekend.
 
Tickets are available online at www.etickethawaii.com or at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Box Office (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). 
 
2024 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	Team (First-place votes)	Points
1.	Cal Poly (5)	94
2.	Hawai'i (3)	85
3.	Long Beach State (2)	83
4.	UC Santa Barbara (1)	75
5.	UC San Diego	63
6.	UC Irvine	60
7.	UC Davis	49
8.	Cal State Bakersfield	35
9.	CSUN	21
T-10.	Cal State Fullerton	20
	UC Riverside	20

 
2024 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Team

Student-Athlete	Year	Pos.	Team
Caylen Alexander	Jr.	OH	Hawai'i
Natalie Glenn	Sr.	OH	Long Beach State
Kate Lang	Sr.	S	Hawai'i
Ava McInnes	Sr.	OH	UC San Diego
Zayna Meyer	R-Jr.	S	Long Beach State
Tommi Stockham	R-Sr.	OH	Cal Poly
Olivia Utterback	Sr.	Opp.	UC Davis