2017 Beach Volleyball Preview:
|  Seniors  |  Juniors  |  Sophomores  |  Freshmen  |

The No. 5 UH beach volleyball team opens the season on Friday, March 3 in Arizona. We continue our preview of the 2017 squad with a look at this year's sophomores.
 
Headlining this year's sophomores is Emily Maglio. The 6-4 native of Coquitlam, Canada enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign in 2016 that saw her go 22-6 overall and earn Big West Freshman of the Year honors.  By season's end she was also tabbed an AVCA All-American, the sixth Rainbow Wahine to earn the honor in the program's young history.
 
"Emily is a great athlete with a tremendous work ethic," head coach Jeff Hall said. "Even with her impressive freshman year, she's still learning the beach game and only beginning to tap into her potential.  She's one of  the most daunting players in the country at the net and her ball skills get better every time she plays. The sky 's the limit for Mags; she's really that special."
 
Maglio played all but two of her 28 matches with fellow All-American Katie Spieler last year as the two dominated the top of the UH lineup. The duo won 17 of their first 19 matches together, including 14 straight at one point, and were named the Big West Conference's Pairs
Team of the Year.  Now Maglio faces the challenge of finding a new partner with the departure of Spieler, a two-time All-American and the program's all-time winningest player.
 
"Katie is irreplaceable," Hall said. "but we're really excited with Emily's new pairing. We think the two of them will be one of the most athletic duos in the country and they'll continue to grow and improve as the season goes on." 
 
Also returning after an impressive debut season is Ari Homayun. The 5-8 Homayun (Woodland Hills, Calif.) paired up with five different players in dual matches, before playing the final 12 matches of her freshman campaign with Hannnah Rooks. But Homayun found her most success with junior Hannah Zalopany. The pair went a combined 9-1 at the No. 4 and 5 flights—including a win against Jo Kremer and Zoe Nigtingale of eventual national champion USC—before picking up all-Big West second team honors at year's end.
 
"Ari is like the little engine that could," Hall said. "She jumps well and has a lot of pop for her size. She's a gamer with the beach experience to make great things happen when she's on the court. She also has some of the nicest hands on our team right now and routinely dishes with a really soft touch."
 
The team is looking for a breakout season this year from Hi'ilawe Huddleston. The native of Oceanside, Calif., appeared in just one dual match and five matches overall as a redshirt freshman last year. But entering her third year in the program, she is poised to crack the Rainbow Wahine lineup.
 
"Hi'ilawe has routinely been at the top of our practice courts since coming on campus," Hall said. "We're thrilled that she's overcome adversity and put herself in a place to score points for us this year. She's smooth in all facets of the game and a tough competitor that fights for every point. She can really help us this year."
 
Other returning sophomores this year include cross-over indoor players Clare-Marie Anderson and Casey Castillo, each of whom saw limited action last year. Transfer Brooke Garlick also looks to get into the action after coming from Hawai'i Pacific.
 
"Casey and Clare played great last year and both traveled with us during the postseason," Hall said. "Look for them to be in the mix for us as the season goes on."