HONOLULU — A rare road opening and home matches against old rivals UCLA and USC highlight the Hawaii women’s volleyball 2022 season schedule released Monday.
For the first time since 2005, and ninth time in program history, the Rainbow Wahine will open on the mainland when they travel to College Station, Texas, to face three opponents in the Texas A&M Invitational, including the Aug. 26 opener against the Aggies, followed by 2021 NCAA tournament teams Pittsburgh and San Diego.
Robyn Ah Mow’s Wahine make their home debut on Sept. 1 in the Outrigger Volleyball Challenge to face Texas State, followed by power conference teams West Virginia (Sept. 2) and UCLA (Sept. 4)
A two-match set against USC ensues Sept. 9 and 10 before the 20-game Big West season begins Sept. 23.
"August 26th cannot come soon enough," Ah Mow said of her upcoming fifth season as head coach in a statement. "We are very excited to hit the ground running with this 2022 schedule as these teams will be a battle and will test our mettle from the very first serve. The teams on this year's nonconference schedule will prepare our team for another great Big West conference run."
UH lost AVCA All-America honorable mention hitter Brooke Van Sickle and All-Big West middle Skyler Williams from last season, but among its 10 returning letterwinners are AVCA all-region middle Amber Igiede and another All-Big West first-team player in setter Kate Lang.
UH went 22-8 (18-2 Big West) in 2021 as the Wahine won their 10th BWC crown and advanced to their 28th consecutive NCAA tournament.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.