Instead of packing and prepping for a trip to UCLA and the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament, Hawaii junior setter Joe Worsley was taking in the Big West beach volleyball tournament at Queen’s Beach last week. Asked how he was doing after the Rainbow Warriors didn’t receive an at-large bid that would have extended their season, Worsley’s addressed what he thought was the biggest injustice.
“I’m sad for Tui; his senior year shouldn’t have ended like this,” Worsley said of senior libero Larry Tuileta.
On Monday, Worsley learned that he and Tuileta would still be flying to Los Angeles, along with junior outside hitter Stijn van Tilburg, to attend Wednesday’s AVCA All-America Banquet. Tuileta and van Tilburg were among the 10 players named to the first team and Worsley was among the 10 on the second team.
In addition Warriors sophomores Rado Parapunov, an opposite, and middle Patrick Gasman were named honorable mention along with 25 others. Hawaii (19-8) had all but two members of its starting lineup cited.
“I think we all know that we should have been in, and this confirms it a little bit,” said Warriors coach Charlie Wade, who is on the All-America selection committee. “It’s quite an accomplishment. You’ve got to be a good team to get that many guys recognized. It speaks to the depth of the program and how hard our guys worked.”
Van Tilburg becomes the sixth Warrior to earn multiple first-team accolades, joining Allen Allen (1988-89), Yuval Katz (1995-96), Costas Theocharidis (2000-03), Jonas Umlauft (2010-11) and Taylor Averill (2014-15). Even more impressive is that van Tilburg was honored last season despite playing out of position as an opposite. He moved to his natural left-side hitting slot this season.
“I’m not surprised he could do it, he’s such a versatile player,” Tuileta said of his roommate van Tilburg. “It will be a little weird going to L.A. without the rest of the guys. But I can’t focus on the negative.
“I’m happy that people think I’m a good volleyball player and that five of our guys got recognized. For me it says I’m lucky to be on this team.”
Tuileta led the team in digs with 2.30 per set, good for second in the conference and 18th nationally. The Punahou product had 10 double-figure-dig matches, including a career-high 16 at UC Santa Barbara this season.
Van Tilburg was fourth nationally and led Hawaii in kills (3.93 kps). He hit .328. In his first full season as the starting setter, Worsley ranked No. 2 in the country in assists (11.02 aps) and helped the Warriors hit .340, fourth-best in the country.
That he was honored at two different positions “is special,” van Tilburg said. “But it is because of the help of everyone. Joe getting me the ball, Tui and Brett (Rosenmeier) passing. I couldn’t have benefited without having help.
“I’m trying not to think about it too much, but it will be really weird not to be with all the boys.”
Van Tilburg and Tuileta give Hawaii its 27th and 28th first-team awards, which have gone to 21 athletes. Worsley is the 20th second-team award, 19th athlete, with the program at nine honorable mention certificates.
The five players is UH’s most recognized since 2015, when the Warriors had Averill on the first team, Brook Sedore on the second, and Jennings Franciskovic, Kolby Kanetake and Siki Zarkovic honorable mentions.
Worsley said he was happy to have one last flight with Tuileta.
“He’s always been a role model to me since I was younger,” Worsley said. “It’s been awesome to play with him. He’s meant a lot to me and to the team. The award is well-deserved.
“I’m still pretty upset (about not being in the NCAAs), but this is definitely positive news today. We’re moving forward from here.”
Hawaii prep products also named on Monday were UCLA junior setter Micah Ma’a (Punahou), on the first team for a second straight year, and Stanford senior libero Evan Enriques (Kamehameha-Hawaii), on the second team.
Hawaii had the second-most athletes honored on the first and second teams. Top-ranked Long Beach State had four. UC Irvine, which was selected over Hawaii for an at-large berth, had one on the second team.
Notes
For the second year in a row, Rosenmeier and Colton Cowell will compete in the USAV Collegiate Beach Volleyball Tournament. The pair finished fourth last May. The tournament is again at Hermosa Beach, Calif., and scheduled for May 9-12.
