IRVINE, Calif. – Two University of Hawai'i teams were recognized as winners of the 2013 Big West Sportsmanship Team Award as announced by the conference office.
 
UH and Cal Poly received multiple awards for the conference's nine spring sports. Hawai'i's women's water polo and men's tennis teams were recognized for excellence in sportsmanship joining UH fall sports women's soccer and women's volleyball as award recipients. Cal Poly had four sports recognized during the spring season.
 
“It's an honor for our student-athletes to be recognized by the Big West for their sportsmanship,” UH women's soccer head coach Maureen Cole said. “It's always been a part of the Rainbow Wahine water polo culture to respect the opponent and respect the game and for others to take notice of that means a lot.”
 
UH men's tennis coach John Nelson said: “I'm proud of our team for winning this award. Our goal is to always be a class act and ambassador on and off the courts. Our guys won with dignity, but more important they lost with dignity, particularly after a gut-wrenching loss in the conference tournament.  Everyone competed hard and respected their opponents.”

During the 2012-13 season, Hawai'i teams collected four Sportsmanship Awards, tying Cal Poly for the most among the conference's 10 teams.
 
The Sportsmanship Award is voted upon by the respective student-athletes in each of the Big West's 16 championship sports.  Each participating student-athlete selects the school that demonstrates excellent conduct in competition and is most deserving of the award. Winning teams are honored with commemorative t-shirts.

 

2013 Big West Spring Sportsmanship Award Winners	Team Honoree
Women's Water Polo	Hawai'i
Women's Tennis	UC Riverside
Men's Tennis	Hawai'i
Men's Golf	Long Beach State
Women's Golf	Cal Poly
Baseball	Pacific
Softball	Cal Poly
Women's Track and Field	Cal Poly
Men's Track and Field	Cal Poly