# Big West Conference women's volleyball

Big West Conference women's volleyball is an American collegiate volleyball conference. It includes 10–12 women's teams from various colleges and universities. Before the 2017–18 school year, the Big West sponsored volleyball only for women, but the conference added a men's volleyball league in that school year. (NCAA women's volleyball is a fall sport, while NCAA men's volleyball is a spring sport.) In 2012, Beach Volleyball began as a recognized collegiate sport. By 2016 this conference officially began play as one of the firsts in the nation.

## History

Through 2010, Big West volleyball teams had earned a combined 22 NCAA final four appearances among four teams. In 1981, pre-shuffling SDSU, two BWC stalwarts were able to make the contemporaneous representation.
The San Diego State University Aztecs became the first Big West program to reach the final four. University of the Pacific also reached the post-1981 final four. University of Hawaiʻi (UHM) was the Big West's first national champion in 1982. In 1998 California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) dominated the NCAA in a 36–0 season (the first to do so). At the turn of the 21st century, only UH and CSULB have been able to reach the final four—a total of five thus-far seasons.
In 2012, former WAC member University of Hawaiʻi joined Big West play for the first time since 1995. They won the regular season in 1995 and in 2012. BWC Schools' histories by annals would show competitive edges in B1G and PAC12 head-to-head duels.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo became a perennial Beach Top 10 performer, with HC Todd Rogers.
As of 2018 the BWC is the only NCAA conference to sponsor an official pairs bracket following the awarding of a Team Championship. The 2018 winners as posted in the finals bracket were: T. Van Winden/Miric (CPSU) defeated Barber/Karelov (LBSU), 2–1. In 2019, the winning and dominant pair of Crissy Jones/Miric (CPSLO) were recognized as The BWC pair. Emily Sonny and Macy Gordon, in 2021.
Spike & Serve–Waikiki hosts, annually on the shores of Queens Beach, the autumn international draw of Pac Rim Championships.

## Teams

| Institution | Current Head Coach | Big West Championships† | Final Four Appearances | Best NCAA finish |
| University of Hawaiʻi | Robyn Ah Mow-Santos | 11 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021) | 9 (1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009) | Champions (1982, 1983, 1987) |
| California State University, Long Beach | Tyler Hildebrand | 13 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014) | 6 (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2001) | Champions (1989, 1993, 1998) |
| University of the Pacific | Greg Gibbons | 4 (1985, 1986, 1999, 2000) | 5 (1981*, 1985*, 1986*, 1990*, 1999*) | Champions (1985*, 1986*) |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | Matt Jones | 6 (1993, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013) | None | Elite 8 (1997, 1999, 2000) |
| California Polytechnic State University 1x AVCA#1, 10-22-85 | Caroline Walters | 5 (1984, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2018) | None | Elite 8 (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985) |
| San Diego State University | Deitre Collins | None | 2 (1981*, 1982*) | Final Four ('83 Elite 8*) |
| University of California, Irvine | Ashlie Hain | None | None | Second Round |
| California State University, Northridge (w Jennifer Fopma) | Jeff Stork | 1 (2013) | None | Second Round |
| California State University, Fullerton | Ashley Preston | 1 (2010) | None | First Round |
| California State University, Bakersfield | Cesar Benatti | None (w 2020 ~competition) | Div.II Champions (1989) | 2 WAC automatic berths, 1st Rd. exit (2014, 2017) |
| University of California, San Diego | Ricci Luyties | None (w 2020 ~competition) | Div.II (2001) | Champions Div.III (1981, 1984, 1986–88, 1990, 1997) |
† Since 1984, when the Big West was known as the P.C.A.A. * As a member of the pre2013 Big West

## NCAA Appearance

Each year since 1981 the Conference Champion of Big West Conference get an Automatic Bid to the NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament. Teams could also qualify for the tournament via At Large Bid. Starting from 2023 the winner of Big West Conference women's volleyball tournament will get the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
| Year | Regular Season Champion | Conference Champion | At Large Bid |
| 2000 | University of Pacific | University of Pacific | UC Santa Barbara & Long Beach State & Utah State & Cal Poly |
| 2001 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | University of Pacific & UC Santa Barbara & Utah State |
| 2002 | UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Barbara | Long Beach State & Cal Poly & University of Pacific |
| 2003 | UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Barbara | UC Irvine & Long Beach State & Idaho & CSUN & University of Pacific |
| 2004 | UC Santa Barbara | UC Santa Barbara | Long Beach State & University of Pacific & UC Irvine & Idaho |
| 2005 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2006 | Cal Poly | Cal Poly | Long Beach State & UC Santa Barbara |
| 2007 | Cal Poly | Cal Poly | Long Beach State |
| 2008 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | – |
| 2009 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2010 | Cal State Fullerton | Cal State Fullerton | Long Beach State |
| 2011 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | – |
| 2012 | Hawaii | Hawaii | – |
| 2013 | Hawaii | Hawaii | CSUN & UC Santa Barbara |
| 2014 | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | Hawaii |
| 2015 | Hawaii | Hawaii | – |
| 2016 | Hawaii | Hawaii | – |
| 2017 | Cal Poly | Cal Poly | Hawaii |
| 2018 | Cal Poly | Cal Poly | Hawaii |
| 2019 | Hawaii | Hawaii | Cal Poly & UC Santa Barbara |
| 2020 | season cancelled due to COVID-19 | – | – |
| 2021 | Hawaii | Hawaii | – |
| 2022 | Hawaii | Hawaii | – |
| 2023 | UC Santa Barbara | Hawaii | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2024 | Cal Poly | Hawaii | |

## Big West Award History
### Coach of the Year

| Year | Coach of the Year (Media only) | School |
| 2013 | Jeff Stork | CSUN |
| 2014 | Brian Gimmillaro | Long Beach State |
| 2015 | Dave Shoji | Hawai'i |
| 2016 | Dave Shoji | Hawai'i |
| 2017 | Sam Crosson | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2018 | Sam Crosson | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2019 | Robyn Ah Mow & Ashley Preston | Hawai'i & CSUF |
| 2020 | Deitre Collins | San Diego State |
| 2021 | Robyn Ah Mow | Hawai'i |
| 2022 | Robyn Ah Mow | Hawai'i |

### Player of the Year

| Year | Player of the Year | School |
| 2013 | Emily Hartong | Hawai'i |
| 2014 | Janelle Hudson | Long Beach State |
| 2015 | Nikki Taylor | Hawai'i |
| 2016 | Nikki Taylor | Hawai'i |
| 2017 | Taylor Nelson | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2018 | Torrey Van Winden | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2019 | Norene Iosia | Hawai'i |
| 2020 | Maia Dvoracek | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2021 | Brooke Van Sickle | Hawai'i |
| 2022 | Amber Igiede | Hawai'i |

### Freshman of the Year

| Year | Freshman of the Year | School |
| 2013 | Alison Spindt | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2014 | Ashley Murray | Long Beach State |
| 2015 | Aldee Van Winden | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2016 | Lindsey Ruddins | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2017 | Mahalia White | UC Davis |
| 2018 | Avalon DeNecochea | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2019 | Hanna Hellvig | Hawai'i |
| 2020 | Mia Tuaniga | Long Beach State |
| 2021 | Michelle Ohwobete | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2022 | Caylen Alexander | Hawai'i |

### Setter of the Year

| Year | Setter of the Year | School |
| 2013 | Sydney Gedryn | CSUN |
| 2014 | Janelle Hudson | Long Beach State |
| 2015 | Tayler Higgins | Hawai'i |
| 2016 | Taylor Nelson | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2017 | Taylor Nelson | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2018 | Norene Iosia | Hawai'i |
| 2019 | Avalon DeNecochea | Cal Poly San Luis Obispo |
| 2020 | Olivia Lovenberg | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2021 | Kate Lang & Seleisa Elisaia | Hawai'i & CS Bakersfield |
| 2022 | Kate Lang | Hawai'i |

### Defensive Player of the Year

| Year | Defensive Player of the Year | School |
| 2013 | Ali Longo | Hawai'i |
| 2014 | Tyler Jackson | Long Beach State |
| 2015 | Savanah Kahakai | Hawai'i |
| 2016 | Savanah Kahakai | Hawai'i |
| 2017 | Hailey Harward | Long Beach State |
| 2018 | Tita Akiu | Hawai'i |
| 2019 | Zoe Fleck | UC Santa Barbara |
| 2020 | Brooke Van Sickle | Hawai'i |
| 2021 | Macall Peed | UC Santa Barbara |

### Libero of the Year

| Year | Libero of the Year | School |
| 2022 | Macall Peed | UC Santa Barbara |

## Big West volleyball in the AVCA

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) annually awards Coach of the Year and Player of the Year honors. The following lists coaches/players from the Big West who have received these top awards.

### Coach of the Year

* 1982 - Dave Shoji, Hawai'i
* 1986 - John Dunning, University of the Pacific
* 1989 - Brian Gimmillaro, Long Beach State
* 1993 - Kathy Gregory (Int'l VB HOF'r 1986–1997 WPVA Exe. Dir.), UC Santa Barbara
* 1998 - Brian Gimmillaro, Long Beach State
* 2009 - Dave Shoji, Hawai'i

### Player of the Year

* 1982, 1983 - Deitre Collins, Hawai'i
* 1986 - Elaina Oden, University of the Pacific
* 1987 - Tonya Williams, Hawai'i
* 1988 - Tara Cross, Long Beach State
* 1989 - Tonya Williams & Tara Cross, Hawai'i & Long Beach State
* 1991 - Antoniette White, Long Beach State
* 1993 - Danielle Scott, Long Beach State
* 1996 - Angelica Ljungqvist, Hawai'i
* 1997, 1998 - Misty May, Long Beach State
* 2003 - Kim Willoughby, Hawai'i

## Big West Beach Volleyball (AVCA/NCAA)
### 2012–2016 as an Emerging Sport

CSULB reached the post-season as National Runners-up in 2012; as National Champions in 2013; as National Runners-up in 2015. UHM reached the post-season in 2014 and 2015. All-American choices were: Caitlyn Ledoux/Tara Roennicke (2012, 2013); Jane Croson (2012), Karissa Cook (2014), Katie Spieler (2014), Brittany Tiegs (2014, 2015), Nikki Taylor (2014, 2015)

### NCAA Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championships

* UHM won all the way to the Gulf Shores, AL NCAA Championships with All-Americans Emily Maglio/Katie Spieler (2016); Morgan Martin/Mikayla Tucker (2017); Emily Maglio/Ka'iwi Schucht (2018) and HM AVCA all-American Amy Ozee (2019). Hawai'i does it seven-in-a-row for 2020.
* Long Beach State won with All-Americans Rachel Nieto/Nele Barber (2017); with non-Championships (CSULB 2018), HM AVCA all-American Nele Barber. Hailey Harward (AVP, 2017–19) has consecutively made the-money-rounds on tour. Cali Bunn has retired from BVB.
* All-American Torrey Van Winden, a 2016 World Championships semifinalist, she represented the CPSLO Mustangs in 2018 (w freshman, Canadian, AA, Tiadora Miric). Sister Adlee (Van Winden), along with Taylor Nelson, earned All-American status during 2017–18. Crissy Jones (1st Team AVCA AA) was in as representation for 2019. Poly returned for a second consecutive NCAAT appearance in 2020.