LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 42nd annual All-America teams for NCAA Division I women on Wednesday, with The Big West’s last two Players of the Year earning acclaim. 2022 honoree and back-to-back All-American Amber Igiede of Hawai’i earned a spot on the 14-player third team while 2023’s award winner Michelle Ohwobete of UC Santa Barbara picked up an honorable mention.  

Also earning third team status last season, Igiede becomes the 10th Rainbow Wahine player to earn placement on the All-American teams in multiple seasons.

The Hawai’i middle blocker capped a four-year collegiate career in impressive fashion, leading The Big West in multiple statistical categories including kills (3.72) and points (4.62) per set and hitting percentage (.396) while also adding 1.09 blocks per set, good for fourth in the league in 2023.  

Since 2019, the product of Baton Rouge, La., compiled 1,371 kills on .397 career hitting and 528 blocks, including 110 of the solo variety. In 2022, Igiede was named Big West Player of the Year after an impressive junior season. Igiede and the ‘Bows went to NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship all four years, advancing in the bracket on three occasions (’19, ’21, ’23) and earning a place in the regional semifinals as a freshman. 

On Monday, Igiede was drafted seventh overall in the inaugural draft class of the newly-established Professional Volleyball Federation, heading to the Omaha Supernovas with the opportunity to continue playing professionally in the U.S. 

Ohwobete, the reigning 2023 Big West Player of the Year, is making a first career appearance on the All-American listings after leading UC Santa Barbara back to the national stage for the first time since 2019. Ohwobete compiled averages of 3.59 kills and 4.22 points per set, both good for Top 5 placement in The Big West this season. The outside hitter also served up 38 total aces and added 282 digs and 68 total blocks for the full-court performance.  

With Ohwobete swinging away, the Gauchos enjoyed a 27-5 season, earning The Big West regular-season title and notching the program’s first 27-win since 2002. In three years at UCSB, the Oakland, Calif., native has totaled 1,159 kills, 746 digs, 199 total blocks and 95 service aces.