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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii libero Tui Tuileta gives high fives to fans after the Rainbow Warriors defeated the Long Beach 49ers at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday.
Hawaii placed four members on the first team of the inaugural All-Big West men’s volleyball team, the conference announced today.
Named were senior libero Tui Tuileta, junior setter Joe Worsley, junior outside hitter Stijn van Tilburg and sophomore middle Patrick Gasman.
Rainbow Warriors sophomore opposite Rado Parapunov was named honorable mention and defensive specialist Gage Worsley was on the all-freshman team.
Coach of the year went to Long Beach State’s Alan Knipe and the 49ers’ junior hitter TJ DeFalco was player of the year. Freshman of the year went to UC Irvine’s Joel Schneidmiller.
Big West champion Long Beach State (24-1, 9-1 BWC) had four players on the first team and two honorable mention. Simon Anderson, the 49ers’ freshman middle, was named to both honorable mention and the all-freshman teams.
Also on the all-freshman team was UC San Diego hitter Wyatt Harrison, son of former Warriors volleyball player Todd Harrison, and a former player for Kapaa High.
Hawaii (18-7, 6-4) is seeded second in this week’s conference tournament that will be played at Long Beach State. The Warriors have a bye into Friday’s semifinal (first serve at 2 p.m. Hawaii time) and will face the winner of Thursday’s first-round match between third-seeded UC Irvine and UC San Diego.
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