Hilo, Hawaii – The University of Hawaii at Hilo baseball program will move to the NCAA Division II level beginning with the 2008-09 season in anticipation of baseball becoming the 11th Pacific West Conference sport.

"We are taking a pro-active approach to this expansion," Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs/acting Athletic Director Dr. Luoluo Hong said. "This situation will keep all of our programs on the Division II level, help us with scheduling and create an opportunity for post-season play."

For the upcoming 2008-09 season, UH Hilo Hawaii Pacific University, Grand Canyon University, Dixie State College and PWC newcomer Academy of Arts University of San Francisco will sponsor baseball. The conference is currently looking at a school sponsoring baseball in becoming the PWC's ninth member.

Started in 1976 as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Vulcan baseball program made the jump to the NCAA Division I level in 1994 to take advantage of scheduling opportunities.

The PWC currently has 10 conference sports -- men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, women's tennis and women's volleyball.