For University of Hawai`i Hilo women's basketball coach David Kaneshiro, it must seem like he is living Ground Hog's Day over and over again.

Like the movie, where Bill Murray's character wakes up and relives the same day over and over again, Kaneshiro begins the 2018-19 season with injuries to work around—just like he did in 2017-18 and in 2016-17. A few of the injuries are carryovers from last year, but still, give a guy a break.

"It takes a lot of patience, for sure," Kaneshiro said. "But the kids that are hurt have shown great character to continue to rehab and work their way back. I can't say enough about their perseverance and character."

The Vulcans will have eight players in uniform for this weekend's openers against Multnomah University on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 16-17). Maybe nine. In total, there are 12 Vulcans on the roster, which includes seven returnees and five newcomers.

The returnees have been through this before. Sophomore post Allie Navarette shouldered much of the load last year when Kim Schmelz, Amber Vaughn and then Safia Sheikh were out. Sheikh has graduated, taking her 12.6 points with her, and Schmelz and Vaughn are two of the players working their way back from previous injuries.

Schmelz was a Third Team All-Pacific West Conference pick in 2016-17 and has 570 career points in two seasons. Vaughn started five games last year at the point before going down with a season-ending injury.

Meanwhile, Navarette had one of the best seasons for a freshman in Vulcan history. Well, any class for that matter. The 6-0 post averaged 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds a game to earn honorable mention all-conference honors. She shot .842 from the free throw line (second best in the PacWest), while leading the team in steals (26) and blocked shots (23).

Navarette's 383 points and 16.7 average were Vulcan school records for a single season. She got to the free throw more than any previous Vulcan (146), made more (123) and had the best percentage (.842).

"Allie had an amazing year," Kaneshiro said. "She has always been determined. She has had to fight through an injury in the preseason, and is just now getting her timing back. I am excited and so is she to see her build off of what she accomplished last season."

6-0 senior Patience Taylor will join Navarette inside when she gets healthy. She started 17 games last year and averaged 4.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a contest. Other returnees are 5-10 forward Malia Lee and guards Alyssa Movchan and Sara Shimizu.

Movchan, a senior, and Shimizu, a sophomore, started 39 games between them in the backcourt. Both averaged just over 6.5 points a game and led the squad in assists with 61 (Shimzu) and 59 (Movchan). "They both look really good in practice," Kaneshiro said. "They seem more confident and comfortable on both ends of the floor. Both are leaders by example and have helped our freshmen guards. They are tough and competitive."

Lee saw action in 17 games last year as a true freshman. "Malia has really improved this season as much as anyone," Kaneshiro added. "She got a lot of valuable experience at the end of last year."

Five newcomers will be wearing Hawai`i Hilo uniforms for the first time this year. Three of them will be familiar to local hoop fans.

Junior Chyann Gabriel (Kamehameha School) comes back home after playing a season at Everett CC in Washington. Freshman guard Mandi Kawaha (Hilo HS) will see immediate playing time, as would have Mikayla Tablit (Konawaena HS). Tablit is sidelined with an injury suffered in early season practice. She helped lead her Wildcat team to four state HHSAA titles, and was a First Team All-Hawaii Girls Basketball selection.

"It's disappointing for Mikayla and all the local fans that wanted to see her play," Kaneshiro said. "She has such a passion for the game and is such a hard worker. She is very determined to make it back stronger than ever."

5-11 freshman guard Maddie Beck (Clarkston, Mich.) and Michelle DelaRosa will also work their way into the playing rotation.

It's a bonus to be able to open the season at home at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. It's been three seasons since Kaneshiro's team has tipped off in Hilo. "It's hard to get non-conference games at home, so we usually have to hit the road," he said. "We are excited to open at home and anxious to play someone else."

Friday's game with Multnomah starts at 6 p.m., while Saturday's contest versus the Lions will be a part of a women's/men's doubleheader and will begin at 5 p.m. The Vulcans will then begin Pacific West Conference play on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 at Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade respectively, before returning home to host Fresno Pacific on Dec. 3.

"Everyone knows what the standard is, the PacWest is a very tough conference," Kaneshiro concluded. "Our players have been great in practice working through the ups and downs. We are getting better and better by the day and are anxious to get this whole thing started."