Big West Conference Release

IRVINE, Calif. – Coming of a share of its second straight Big West Conference title and 19^th consecutive overall, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball team has been picked to defend its Big West title heading into the 2014 season.

The 'Bows, 25-5 overall and 13-3 in league play last season, nabbed five first-place votes (77 pts) from the coaches as four teams garnered first-place tallies. Long Beach State was voted second with one first-place vote and 68 points followed by UCSB (63 points, 2 first-place votes) and CSUN who earned 60 points and two first-place votes as well.

UC Irvine (42 pts) was picked fifth followed by Cal Poly (34), UC Davis (25), Cal State Fullerton (24) and UC Riverside (12).

Head Coach Dave Shoji begins his 40^th season at the University of Hawai 'i coming off the team's 32^nd NCAA Tournament appearance. The 'Bows will feature a handful of fresh faces and a nucleus of veterans from last year's team that finished 18^th in the final AVCA national poll.
 
2013 First-Team All-Big West selection Nikki Taylor, all-conference selection and three-year starter Kalei Adolpho, and rising stars Tai Manu-Olevao and Tayler Higgins return to guide the Rainbow Wahine in search of their 20^th straight conference title.

The 'Bows kick off fall camp on Sunday, Aug. 10 and open the season with the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational from Aug. 29-31.