The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball team dominated the end of the regular season awards in the Big West Conference.
Nikki Taylor was named Big West Player of the Year, head coach Dave Shoji was named Big West Coach of the Year, and five Rainbow Wahine, including Irvine Valley's own Annie Mitchem, earned all-Big West first team honors.
MItchem missed the first nine games of the season due to an injury suffered on the first day of practice. But since her return to the court, the 'Bows have gone 17-1 overall.
Her addition into the lineup has proved to be a key component to UH's success. She slid over from her customary middle hitter position to play on the leftside, giving much balance to the offense and taking a load off of Taylor on the right.
Mitchem recorded 173 kills, averaging 2.88 per set with a hitting percentage of .330. She also was in on 55 blocks (five solo) with 41 digs.
Mitchem was named Big West Player of the Week on Nov. 7 after helping the 'Bows sweep both Long Beach State and CSUN to claim first place in the conference.
The Rainbow Wahine moved up to No. 12 in this week's AVCA poll and to No. 23 in this week's RPI.
Hawai'i will be heading to Minneapolis to play USC in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Friday, Dec. 2.
Mitchem was outstanding at Irvine Valley and won just about every honor imaginable during the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
She was named the America Volleyball Coaches Association Two-Year National Player of the Year for two straight years.
Mitchem also became Irvine Valley's first ever California Community College Athletic Association female athlete of the year (for all sports) after helping IVC win indoor and sand titles during the 2014-15 school year.
Mitchem also won an individual sand title, teaming with Emily Reinking to take the No. 2 pairs title at the inaugural CCCAA Women's Volleyball State Championships in 2014.
"She's the best player I've seen ever at the community college level," Irvine Valley coach Tom Pestolesi said of Mitchem at the time. "She can do everything."