HONOLULU, Hawai`i--Rested and fresh after nearly three weeks since their last match, the Hawai`i Hilo women's tennis team will return to action this week with four matches in four days on Oahu.

The Vulcans, 1-4 after opening their season with five matches in four days in Waikoloa (February 14-17), will take on Chaminade twice, Hawai`i Pacific and Dominican. 

UH Hilo will tackle Chaminade on Monday (March 9) and Thursday (March 12) at the Diamond Head Tennis Center, with both matches starting at 12:30 p.m. The Vulcans defeated the Silverswords 7-0 on Feb. 16.

On Tuesday, UH Hilo will face No. 8 nationally ranked Hawai`i Pacific for the second time this season (Sharks won 4-0 on Feb. 16). HPU has been on a grinding schedule since then, having played in the ITA Division II National Indoor Championship in Oklahoma, reaching the finals before falling to Barry (Fla.), 4-0. They then traveled to Florida to take on Barry again along with Lynn and Palm Beach Atlantic. The Sharks are 8-5 on the year, but all five of their losses were to teams ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the country--twice to No. 1 Barry, once to No. 2 Lynn and twice to No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (D-III). The Vulcans and Sharks will play at the Kailua Racquet Club at 11:30 a.m.

The Vulcans will also play a key match with Dominican on Wednesday. The Vulcans are contending with the Penguins for a spot in the PacWest Tournament in April (Arizona). Dominican is 4-3 on the season, which includes wins over Holy Names and Stanislaus State, two other squads fighting for a spot. The Vulcans and Penguins will play at the Diamond Head Tennis Center at 10 a.m.

After the matches on Oahu, the Vulcans will return home briefly before leaving for California, where they will play eight matches from March 17-28 in northern and southern California.