All-Time Big West All-Americans | AVCA release
Two Big West couplings from the conference’s National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship-bound programs have been named to the 2026 AVCA First Team All-America squad, as 2026 champion Cal Poly’s Ella Connor and Erin Inskeep are joined by Long Beach State’s Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah.

The Cal Poly tandem of Connor and Inskeep, the 2026 Big West Pair of the Year, secures its first career First Team All-America nod following a dominant run atop the lineup. The Mustang duo compiled a 31-5 record from the No. 1 position, consistently delivering pivotal dual-clinching points against the nation’s top pairs while guiding Cal Poly to a conference title and NCAA Championship berth. Connor etched a place in program history this season, surpassing the 100-career-win mark, while the pair’s three Big West Pair of the Week honors led the conference. This is Connor’s third appearance on the AVCA First Team list after earning honors in 2022 and 2024, while Inskeep has cracked the First Team list for three straight seasons. 

Long Beach State’s senior pairing of Gementera and Hagenah collects their third consecutive First Team All-America selection, continuing their run as one of the nation’s premier duos. Anchoring the Beach from Court 1, the pair posted a 24-10 record against elite competition while eclipsing the 100-career-win milestone earlier this season. The duo’s veteran presence proved instrumental in Long Beach State’s championship push, routinely matching up against the opposition’s top flight. 

Also earning AVCA All-America recognition are two Big West tandems on the Second Team, highlighted by Cal Poly’s Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter alongside Hawai‘i’s Julia Lawrenz and Izadora Stedile. 

Martinez and Walter, both All-Big West First Team selections, turned in a stellar 34-3 record primarily from the No. 2 position, establishing themselves as one of the most reliable pairs in the nation while holding down the middle of the Mustang lineup. This is the second straight season the duo has received a Second Team nod, while Martinez made the first team back in 2024. 

Lawrenz and Stedile also capture Second Team distinction following a standout season for the BeachBows. The duo from Curitiba, Brazil compiled a strong campaign primarily across the top two flights, producing a 26-8 overall record while securing multiple wins over nationally ranked opponents. The duo provided key dual points throughout the season and earned Big West Pairs Team of the Week to start off the 2026 campaign. This is the first AVCA honor for both student-athletes. 

The four All-America pairs showcase the depth and national prominence of Big West beach volleyball, with both Cal Poly and Long Beach State set to open postseason play at the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala, tomorrow, May, 1, 2026. Heading into the 2026 NCAA Championship, Cal Poly resides at No. 6 in the national rankings while Long Beach State sits at No. 10.