The uniforms will be similar and there are a handful of familiar faces on the 2017 Hawai`i Hilo volleyball team, but most everything else about the program is brand new.

From first-year head coach Gene Krieger to a roster filled with transfers and freshmen, it will be a brand new Vulcan team that opens its season on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at Holy Names University. That match will kick off six contests in five days in northern California, and when this week is in the books, Krieger will know more about his team than he does now.

"I always wish we had more practice," Krieger said. "If it were up to me we would have two weeks more of practice, but time is up, we need to see how they play when the score counts."

Krieger arrived in Hawaii with plenty of program-building know how. He has a career record of 367-210, fashioned at NCAA Division II or NAIA schools (some of which are now Div. II). In many of those seven coaching gigs, he had the task of turning a program around, which was successfully accomplished.

 "In my previous experiences, rebuilding programs to the championship level are usually two-to-three year ventures," said Krieger, who most recently spent two years at Anderson in South Carolina. "I hope our fans can see right away that we play inspired, unified and fundamentally sound volleyball. The PacWest is a competitive volleyball conference and we have set our sights on the regional tournament. If the players follow my lead we will continue making the necessary strides to get there."

When Krieger arrived last spring, he promised to recruit Hawaii first, and he fulfilled that claim. Four of his eight newcomers have island roots, including Second Team JC All-American setter Basia Sauni, who has the task of replacing four-year starter Sienna Davis (now a Vulcan assistant coach). Sauni led a very good Scottsdale CC team to a fifth-place national finish last fall, and originally hails from Kahuku High School.

"We did sign a group of young ladies that have had some previous successes at their former institutions," he confirmed. "In addition to Basia, three freshmen come off of all-state recognition from their senior seasons: Ashton Jesse (Anchorage), Sha Rae Niu (Kahuku HS), and Amber Tai (Kailua HS)."

Other newscomers that will make large contributions include Sauni's teammate at Scottsdale CC, Kiley Davis, Prairie View A&M transfer Randi Hunter, Irvine Valley transfer Lucee Fitzgerald and Wentworth Military Academy's (by way of Kapaa HS), Tori Daligcon.

All those new to the program, especially the three freshmen, won't have the luxury of learning the ropes in comfort.

"All three of our freshmen will be "baptized" their first year for sure," Krieger explained. "What I mean by that is no waiting behind other senior members and learning by observing. They will be playing. The pre-season team chemistry has been great and I feel everyone has made a conscious effort to spend time with each other and work at building team cohesiveness."

In charge of creating that atmosphere are the Vulcan returnees—seniors Siera Green, Trixie Croad and Taylor Madrid, along with juniors Mina Grant and Katrina Johnson, and sophomores Kaila Lizama, Armani Moultrie and Evelin Solyomvari.

"Siera Green was voted by her teammates as co-captain for this season," Krieger said.  "She and libero Mina Grant and right side hitter Katrina Johnson are the only returners with some starting experience on the squad, but all the returnees saw time last year and are a key part of this group."

The new family will have a golden chance to test their bonds on this first road trip. After the non-conference match against the fellow Pacific West Conference Hawks, the Vulcans will take on Menlo (Sept. 6) and then four teams in the D2 West Region Volleyball Showcase Sept. 7-9—Cal State Monterey Bay, Alaska, host San Francisco State and Cal Poly Pomona.

The Vulcans won't play on the UHH campus until Friday, Sept. 22 when they host Academy of Art. It will be a new look that Vulcan fans will see. Gone is four-year kill maker Marley Strand-Nicolaisen, among others. It might be a work in progress, but Krieger invites local volleyball fans to climb on board for the ride.

"We are also in a two-year courting process regarding our recruiting," he said. "It's a marathon, not a sprint. But I propose that our great volleyball community will enjoy the process of where we are headed and we promise to provide a team and a product that the community can be proud of."