The wall at the Ching Complex beach courts continues to be filled. Not only will Hawaii add to its list of national tournament appearances and Big West Conference titles following a record-breaking season, the Rainbow Wahine will lengthen its roll of All-Americans as well.
On Thursday, the duo of Emily Maglio and Ka’iwi Schucht were honored by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as one of eight pairs comprising its All-America team. It was the first such award for Schucht and the second for Maglio, who becomes the second Rainbow Wahine to earn All-America recognition in beach and indoor, joining Nikki Taylor.
Maglio is the first to do so in the same school year. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker, who will forego her final year of beach eligibility, was selected to the Canadian national indoor team following last week’s tryouts.
“I couldn’t be more happy for her,” Schucht said of Maglio, who went from the NCAA tournament in Alabama directly to Canada for the national team tryout. “It was a busy week for her, a quick turnaround. But if anyone could do it, it was her.
“We didn’t win the national championship, which was a team goal, but this was a goal for us individually. When she first started playing with Katie Spieler (in 2016), I was hoping that I’d have a chance to play with her. I’m glad I got to do it my senior year. It’s a nice way to go out.”
It was a busy week for Schucht as well. She graduated Saturday with a degree in family resources/human development.
Maglio-Schucht went 35-6 playing mostly at Flight 1, the 35 victories setting a program single-season record, as did their 25-match winning streak. They were named the Big West pairs team of the year, helping the SandBows to their third consecutive conference title and second straight third-place national finish.
“I’m incredibly proud of Ka’iwi and Emily,” Hawaii coach Jeff Hall said. “They earned this award because of their commitment to their craft, their drive and to each other.”
The SandBows have now received 13 All-America certificates given to nine individuals, the nine tying USC for third-most in the sport’s young history (inaugural year being 2012). Maglio joins Spieler (2014, ‘16), Taylor (2014-15) and Brittany Tiegs (2014-15) as multiple awardees for UH.
Other pairs honored were Cal Poly’s Torrey Van Winden-Tia Miric (24-11); Florida International’s Federica Frasca-Margherita Bianchin (26-8); LSU’s Clarie Coppola-Kristen Nuss (37-9); Tulane’s Madeline Mertz-Kaylie McHugh (32-9); UCLA’s Megan and Nicole McNamara (35-7); and USC’s Abril Bustamante-Tina Graudina (31-2). All selected played the majority of the season at Flight 1. The McNamara twins and Maglio were the only repeat selections.
National champion UCLA was the only school also represented on the honorable mention list with Flight 2 pair Lily Justine and Sarah Sponcil. Also named were Pepperdine’s Deahna Kraft and Corinne Quiggle, Long Beach State’s Nele Barber and Molly Turner of Grand Canyon.
Hall, who was on the All-America selection committee, said several other Flight 2 pairs were considered. That included Hawaii’s Morgan Martin and Lea Monkhouse (34-6 overall, 26-3 at Flight 2).
Maglio-Schucht began the season at Flight 2, going 9-3, then moved to Flight 1, where they won 25 of their first 26 matches. They were 17-6 versus ranked opponents, ending the year with consecutive losses to No. 7 Florida State and No. 1 UCLA at the national tournament.
Note
Also on Thursday, the Big West Conference reprimanded Cal Poly beach volleyball coach Todd Rogers for unsportsmanlike behavior during last month’s conference tournament at Queen’s Beach in Waikiki. It was determined that Rogers violated conference sportsmanship bylaws with the use of vulgar language and obscene gestures directed at an opponent during the tournament. Although not specified, the opponent is believed to have been third-seeded Long Beach State, which upset the second-seeded Mustangs twice during the event. The 49ers finished second to Hawaii.
