NCAA Beach Volleyball 2017 Countdown: Hawaii

NCAA Beach Volleyball 2017 Countdown: Hawaii

The 2017 Hawaii beach volleyball team is deep with 27 players on the roster, so competition at practice is going to be fierce and we may see a variety of players in the starting rotation for the first few weeks of the season.

Feb 26, 2017 by Megan Kaplon
NCAA Beach Volleyball 2017 Countdown: Hawaii
We're counting down to the start of the 2017 NCAA beach volleyball season by previewing one of the nation's top programs every day leading up to opening weekend.

So far, we've highlighted Loyola Marymount, Georgia State, and Louisiana StateLong Beach State, and the University of Arizona. Today, get to know the Rainbow Wahine of the University of Hawaii.

In Short


The 2017 Hawaii beach volleyball team is deep with 29 players on the roster, so competition at practice is going to be fierce and we may see a variety of players in the starting rotation for the first few weeks of the season.

Last Season


18-10 overall
Fourth in Final 2016 AVCA Poll
2-2 at NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship

The Players


Returning Stars
Ari Homayun | 5-8 | Sophomore | Woodland Hills, California
Hi'ilawe Huddleston | 5-9 | Sophomore | Oceanside, California
Emily Maglio | 6-3 | Sophomore | Coquitlam, British Columbia
Hannah Rooks | 6-0 | Senior | Honolulu, Hawaii
Ka'iwi Schucht | 5-9 | Junior | Escondido, California
Nikki Taylor | 6-4 | Senior | Honolulu, Hawaii
Mikayla Tucker | 5-8 | Senior | Placerville, California
Hannah Zalopany | 5-9 | Senior | Spokane, Washington

Key Newcomers
Cali Bunn | 6-0 | Freshman | Encinitas, California | Tulane Transfer
Norene Iosia | 5-11 | Freshman | Torrance, California
Carly Kan | 5-9 | Grad Student | Honolulu, Hawaii | Missouri Transfer
Sydney Kidd | 5-8 | Freshman | San Diego, California
Chloe Luyties | 5-9 | Freshman | San Diego, California
Morgan Martin | 6-0 | Freshman | Mission Viejo, California
Annie Mitchem | 6-3 | Senior | Friendswood, Texas | Irvine Valley College Transfer
Amy Ozee | 6-1 | Freshman | Haiku, Hawaii
Emma Smith | 5-8 | Freshman | Manhattan Beach, California
Laurel Weaver | 5-11 | Junior | Winnetka, California | UCLA Transfer

Biggest Losses
Ginger Long | 5-11 | Kihei, Hawaii
Lara Schreiber | 6-0 | Freiburg, Germany
Katie Spieler | 5-5 | Santa Barbara, California

Opening Weekend Matches


March 3
12 PM MT vs. Arizona State @ Arizona
6 PM MT vs. Arizona

March 4
9 AM MT vs. Jacksonville

Overview


Returning All-Americans Emily Maglio and Nikki Taylor will be favorites to earn the No. 1 spot for Hawaii, which finished 2016 ranked fourth in the AVCA poll. That said, the Hawaii beach volleyball squad is massive, and with four incoming AVCA High School Beach All-Americans adding their talents to practice and vying for spots in the starting lineup, not to mention three very talented transfers, competition in matches and at practice is going to be fierce.

The most decorated member of the 2017 freshman class at Hawaii is Morgan Martin. The First Team AVCA High School Beach Volleyball All-American played with Stanford's Kathryn Plummer at the U17 Beach Volleyball World Championships in Acapulco, Mexico, and brought home the gold medal.

We can't wait to watch Honolulu native and three-time indoor All-American Carly Kan hit the sand. The undersized outside hitter dazzled audiences with her athleticism and big hops while playing at Missouri, but she's coming home to finish out her final season of eligibility on the beach.