Rainbow Wahine Volleyball’s Tayli Ikenaga Named “Defensive Player of the Week”

Libero Led Hawaii to Three Non-Conference Victories, Averaging 4.43 Digs Per Set

Honolulu, Hawaii – University of Hawaii women's volleyball libero Tayli Ikenaga has been named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending September 4, 2023, announced by the conference office on Monday.

Defensive Player of the Week

Ikenaga led the Rainbow Wahine to a 3-0 record last week with wins over Cal State Fullerton (3-0), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (3-1) and New Mexico (3-0).

The junior libero from Mililani, Hawaii averaged 4.43 digs per set, 2.14 assists per set and 3.29 receptions per set over the three-match span.

Against Cal State Fullerton, Ikenaga had 20 digs and seven assists while adding six digs and three assists against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. She closed out the week with 21 digs and four assists in the sweep of New Mexico.

This is the first career Big West weekly award for Ikenaga and the second for a Rainbow Wahine this season. Setter Kate Lang was named Big West Freshman of the Week on August 29.