IRVINE, Calif. (April 19, 2023) – The Big West announced the recipients of the All-Big West honors for men's volleyball. After rounding out the 2023 regular season, two athletes from UC Santa Barbara earned a spot on these teams. 

Ryan Wilcox is one of those Gauchos. The senior was named an All-Big West First Team honoree after leading UC Santa Barbara all season long. Wilcox ended the regular season with 291 kills, the second-most in a season throughout his career while earning the most digs in a season with 160. He also leads the team in aces with 31 on his way to his fourth All-Big West honors. There were only three matches this season where Wilcox did not record double-digit kills. His experience in the back row also led him to three double-doubles throughout the season. 

Owen Birg also made an impact on The Big West as he earned a spot on the All-Freshmen team. The redshirt freshman from Thousand Oaks only played in 30 sets due to injury but was instrumental for the Gauchos while he was healthy. He had two matches this season where he put up more than 20 kills while registering double-digit kills in six of the eight matches he appeared in. Not only that, but Birg was crucial to the front row defensive efforts, earning 14 blocks along the way. Birg was a two-time Big West Freshman of the Week honoree this season.   

The Gauchos finished the Big West regular season with a record of 3-7 and will compete in The Big West Championships as the No. 4 seed. They will take on the No. 5 UC San Diego Tritons in the quarterfinal round tomorrow, April 20, at 5 p.m. for a chance to take on the No. 1 Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in the semifinals on Friday.