Courtesy: Big West Conference
Hawai‘i dominated the 2018 women’s beach volleyball awards after claiming its third-straight Big West Tournament title at Queen’s Beach in Honolulu. The SandBows garnered all three of the top awards: senior Ka’iwi Schucht and junior Emily Maglio earned Pairs Team of the Year honors, Lea Monkhouse garnered Freshman of the Year accolades and Jeff Hall was tabbed Coach of the Year as the conference announced the all-conference teams today.
The SandBows will represent the Big West Conference in the NCAA Tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, May 4-6 for the third consecutive season. The championship will have an eight-team bracket that will be played in double-elimination format.
With a 34-4 overall record in 2018, Schucht and Maglio set a program record with their 34 victories. The pair received Pairs Team of the Week honors earlier this season to help UH to a 35-3 record overall. At the No. 1 spot, the tandem went 24-1 and additionally set a school-record with 25-straight wins as a pair. Spearheading the way for the Rainbow Wahine, the duo helped Hawai‘i maintain a No. 3 national ranking and earn a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. With a .895 win-percentage, the duo will be key forthe ‘Bows in the NCAA Tournament.
For the third-straight year, Freshman of the Year accolades belong to UH as Monkhouse earned the distinction for her efforts on the sand. The rookie dominated the beach tallying 34 wins, the most ever by a freshman in program history. With partner Morgan Martin, the duo won 19-straight matches since moving to the No. 2 flight for the SandBows for a .919 win-percentage (34-3).
At the helm for the SandBows, Hall led Hawai‘i to the Big West Conference Tournament championship and took the title in 4-1 fashion over Long Beach State, winning at the 2, 3, 4 and 5 positions. The ’Bows defeated LBSU twice to earn the crown and finished undefeated 3-0 on the weekend. Hall will take his squad to its third consecutive NCAA Tournament where the Rainbow Wahine will face South Carolina to open postseason play. The SandBows have spent seven weeks at No. 3 in the nation and spent the duration of the 2018 season in the top 5 in the national poll.
The all-conference first team features Martin and Monkhouse in addition to the Pairs Team of the Year. Torrey Van Winden and Tia Miric represent the Mustangs along with teammates Emily Sonny and Samantha Manley. From Long Beach State, Sasha Karelov and Nele Barber represent the Beach on the first team along with teammates Rachel Nieto and Megan Kruidhof.
All-Big West Teams
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