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

A well-deserved recognition

Tayli Ikenaga, a libero for the University of Hawaii women’s volleyball team, has been named the Big West Defensive Player of the Week for the week of September 12-18 after her stellar performance in leading her team to a perfect 3-0 record.

The junior from Mililani, Hawaii, averaged 4.83 digs per set and had a reception percentage of .950 in the three matches, helping the Rainbow Wahine improve to 8-3 on the season.

Ikenaga's impressive stats

Ikenaga had 23 digs in a sweep of Cal State Fullerton on September 14, followed by 15 digs in a sweep of UC Riverside on September 16 and 18 digs in a four-set win over UC Davis on September 18.

Her performance against UC Davis was particularly impressive, as she had 18 digs in the first two sets alone and helped the Rainbow Wahine rally from a 2-0 deficit to win the match.

Ikenaga's impact on the team

Ikenaga’s defensive prowess has been a key factor in the Rainbow Wahine’s success this season.

She leads the team with 141 digs and is second on the team with 60 assists.

Her ability to consistently dig tough serves and attacks has allowed the Rainbow Wahine to set up their offense and put pressure on their opponents.

Ikenaga's future

Ikenaga is a rising star in the Big West Conference and is considered one of the top liberos in the country.

She has helped the Rainbow Wahine reach the NCAA Tournament in each of her first two seasons, and she is expected to play a key role in the team's success this year.

Ikenaga is also a member of the U.S. Collegiate National Team and is considered a potential future Olympian.