Angelica Ljungqvist leaving University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine beach volleyball, indoor coaching jobs
ANDREW LEE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019
Hawaii’s head coach Robyn Ah Mow and assistant coach Angelica Ljungqvist during the second set of a NCAA Women’s Volleyball Match against UC Davis at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Angelica Ljungqvist, the University of Hawaii head coach of the beach volleyball program and associate coach of the Rainbow Wahine’s indoor volleyball program, will be stepping down, effective July 20.
Ljungqvist will return to be closer to her family in Sweden, according to her statement released by UH.
Ljungqvist, a former four-time All-American, the 1996 National Player of the Year and a UH Sports Circle of Honor inductee, joined Robyn Ah Mow’s indoor staff in 2017.
The native of Vallentuna, Sweden, helped lead the Rainbow Wahine to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2019 Big West regular-season title during her tenure.
“This was a very difficult decision and it’s heartbreaking to say goodbye,” Ljungqvist said in a statement released by UH. “Returning to my alma mater to coach was a dream come true. I’m truly grateful to Robyn and the administration for giving me this opportunity. It has been an honor and privilege to represent UH, the State and the people of Hawai’i and I am so blessed to call Hawai‘i home. However, right now, it’s important for me to be close to family in Sweden. I give all my aloha to our Rainbow Wahine players, coaches and staff and also extend a warm mahalo nui loa to our fans for welcoming me back to Hawai‘i a second time. I know both the indoor and beach teams have spectacular years ahead of them and I look forward to cheering them on.”
“Ang has been a tremendous asset to the success of our program but more importantly she was a role model for these young women,” Ah Mow said in a UH release. “She is the face of Hawai‘i Volleyball. Despite not being from the islands, she knew what it meant to be a Rainbow Wahine and to represent Hawai‘i. We’re so fortunate that she left this gift with our student-athletes and the hope is they take it and use it in everyday life! She will be sorely missed. Outside the program, no one knows how much time and dedication our coaches spend for the program and Ang gave everything she had. I wish her and her family the best and hope our paths will meet again!”
The search for a new beach volleyball head coach will begin immediately. Evan Silberstein will serve as interim head beach volleyball coach until the search is completed.
