FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maui’s Milaniakai Padilla Makes History at 33rd AAU Hermosa Beach National Championships
First Hawaiian To Win AAU Beach Volleyball Player Of The Year

Hermosa Beach, CA (July 17) - A historic announcement today on Center Court at the 33rd AAU Hermosa Beach National Championships, as Milaniakai Padilla was chosen as the first Hawaiian athlete to win the prestigious AAU Beach Volleyball Player Of The Year.  

The Maui native enters her junior year of high school this fall at Seabury Hall, with an eye on the future as well. Padilla recently committed to play beach volleyball at Stanford University, beginning in the Fall of 2028.

Padilla joins surfing legend Carissa Moore in blazing new trails for Hawaiian sports women, as both have now been honored with AAU national awards. Moore is the 2022 AAU Sullivan Award recipient, which is presented to the nation’s top Olympic or collegiate athlete.

Padilla also joins elite company as AAU Beach Volleyball Player Of The Year. Three previous honorees have represented Team USA in the Olympics, including Paris Games silver medalist and 2018 AAU Sullivan Award winner Kathryn Plummer.

Just minutes after the announcement, Padilla was still excited. “For me to win this award it shows that hard work and dedication has paid off. To be from such a small island the culture is so amazing. I’m grateful for my Hawaii family that supports me.”

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The Amateur Athletic Union, founded in 1888, has a rich history in the development of sports in the United States and the Olympic movement. The AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by nearly 1,000,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs. Volleyball is the largest sport in the AAU with more than 320,000 members.  The AAU Indoor Volleyball Championships held each year in Orlando, FL, is the largest volleyball tournament in the world. The AAU first licensed Beach Volleyball in 1957 in Manhattan Beach.  The AAU Junior Beach program, founded in 1994 in Hermosa Beach, spiked participation in youth programming for beach volleyball athletes.

For results, follow the event:  aau.volleyballlife.com 

Contact: Denny Lennon - AAU Beach Volleyball Commissioner - 310-877-5293