SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Portland Pilots standouts Taina Kaauwai and Maui Robins have been named to the 2025 WCC Volleyball Preseason Team, the conference announced Wednesday morning.
 
Middle blocker Taina Kaauwai played and started all 28 matches for the Pilots in the 2024 season. Kaauwai made history as the first player in program history to earn AVCA All-Region honors, picking up an Honorable Mention for the Northwest Region. She had a standout season leading the WCC in hitting percentage at .382 and ranking 34th in the nation. Kaauwai also finished with 114 total blocks, placing her among the top of the conference. Last season, she became the first Pilot since 2017 to be named to the All-WCC First Team. She also broke the school record for blocks in a single match with 12.
 
Joining her on the preseason list is outside hitter Maui Robins, who was named All-WCC Honorable Mention following a stellar all-around campaign. Robins opened the year as the WCC Offensive Player of the Week and consistently delivered on both offense and defense. She led the Pilots in kills (305) and service aces (32), while ranking second in digs (266), third in blocks (56.0) and fourth in assists (34). Robins also finished ninth in the conference in total points (369). Highlighting her 2024 season, Robins reached a major career milestone on October 31, surpassing 1,000 career points—becoming just the 22nd player in program history to do so, and accomplishing it in only three seasons.
 
Portland closed the 2024 campaign with its highest win total since 2018. Portland is ranked 10th with 39 points received based on votes made by each WCC volleyball team's head coach. The San Diego Toreros were picked as WCC Champions with 120 points and 10 first-place votes while the Pepperdine Waves were picked second with 107 points and two first-place votes. The LMU Lions were picked to finish third at 97 points. 
 
Portland begins their regular season at the Vandal Volleyball Invitational in Moscow, Idaho. The Pilots open the tournament on Aug. 29 at 12 p.m. (PT) and then take on Oral Roberts. Portland concludes the tournament against host Idaho on Aug. 30.
 
See below for the full preseason poll and team.  
 
2025 West Coast Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
(Team (first-place votes) points)
1. San Diego (10) 120
2. Pepperdine (2) 107
3. LMU 97
4. Oregon State 86
    Washington State 86
6. Saint Mary's 72
7. Pacific 51
8. San Francisco 50
9. Santa Clara 44
10. Portland 39
11. Gonzaga 28
12. Seattle 12  
 
2025 West Coast Conference Volleyball Preseason Team
Genevieve Bane, Saint Mary's
Nemo Beach, San Diego
Lucie Blazková, Washington State
Isabel Clark, San Diego
Sjakkie Donkers, Gonzaga
Kali Engeman, San Diego
Grace Flanagan, Santa Clara
Annika Hester, Oregon State
Taina Kaauwai, Portland
Kylie Munday, San Diego
Kennedy Osunsanmi, San Diego
Ella Piskorz, Pepperdine
Vanessa Polk, Pepperdine
Iva Popovic, Pepperdine
Maui Robins, Portland
Lauren Rumel, Oregon State

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