There's no NCAA Division II championship to chase for the UH Hilo volleyball team this spring, which looks loaded for its first PacWest title run since 2009 when it all does count in the Fall of 2021.

Those sports canceled in the fall (cross-country, soccer, volleyball) by the coronavirus pandemic and now playing in the spring don't have conference titles to chase either.

On the bright side, the Vulcans do have 16 matches this spring in what are technically exhibitions. Stats will be kept and the PacWest will recognize all-pod and all-conference performers, such as player of the week and an all-PacWest team.

UHH athletic director Pat Guillen, whose job is to look for silver linings under dark clouds, put it into perspective.

"We're fortunate to be able to play a developmental season and get an extra year back. They'll be good," he said. The last time we checked in, the Vulcans went 23-8 in 2019 and went to the NCAA tournament.

This spring, the Vulcans will play Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific seven times each in a round-robin of matches or if you want a glorified title, call it a battle for Hawaii's unofficial championship to replace any postseason aspirations.

To double down on the fun UHH opens at Chaminade on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. then has a fast turnaround and plays Hawaii Pacific at 7 p.m. at the Shark Tank.

On Sunday, the Vulcans play Chaminade at 10 a.m. and later HPU at 2:30 p.m.

The Vulcans host the merry-go-around in two weekends. The Silverswords are 71-39 all-time against the Vulcans, and the Sharks hold a 71-59 edge.

Alaska Anchorage is braving the cold and a long flight to Hawaii to play the three Hawaii schools in late April.

"We haven't played a match in 15 months," said Vulcan head coach Chris Leonard. "This spring is a great opportunity to see where we are at. We should be stronger this year, but you never know until you put the team on the floor."

It'll be like old times again with daughter Zoe Leonard and her Kamehameha teammate Ka`iulani Ahuna on the bench as assistants.

"Zoe moved back to Hawaii and took a job with Kai Kahele," he said. "Kaiu is between seasons of pro ball in Europe, and they shut down the season due to COVID. Fortunately, we have them in the gym with us."

That duo joins Leonard's longtime right-hand man Emil (Ecko) Osario on the coaching bench and former Vulcan setter Basia Sauni.

"We have a great group of student-athletes in the gym and I'm thankful to work with alongside an amazing coaching staff," Leonard added. "Ecko Osorio and I have coached together for over 20 years at the club, high school and collegiate level and are very like-minded in the gym.

"Basia Sauni was a stand-out player in our Vulcan program and the outstanding work-ethic she had as player is evident in her coaching style.

"Zoe and Ka'iu are players that were developed in our system before going off to successful collegiate careers. They bring an in-depth knowledge of the offense and defense that we want to run."

So how do you get a horse to chase something with no carrot dangling in front?

"Historically for all of the Hawaii teams, and it goes for all sports, have always had a natural Hawaii interisland rivalry," Leonard said. "One thing we're excited about is the number of kids on our roster, and we're excited to see what they can do.

"We'll play four matches in two days and have to be aware of the level of fatigue. We don't have a pitch count, but that's a lot of jumps and swings."

Freshman Tani Hoke, from Maryknoll, will get a shot at replacing libero Kaila Lizama, who had to wait for Mina Grant to graduate. Grant set the gold bar as a defender, leaving as the school's career digs leader. Lizama followed that by breaking the single-season school mark for digs in a season with 582 in 2019.

"She works hard and has shown a maturity beyond her class standing," Leonard said of Hoke. "She's competitive and has made some great plays on defense. She's coachable and has made a lot of progress."

As good as Grant or Lizama? She has a developmental year and returns as a second-year freshman next Fall, so we'll see.

Imeleta Ale, a 5-foot-11 freshman from Carson, Calif., could see minutes at middle blocker. Her father Arnold Ale played for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.

The Vulcans still have senior hitters Bria Beale, Amber Tai, who is injured, and Taira Kaawaloa, middle Ashton Jessee, who's back healthy from her knee injury, setter Kendall Kott and opposite Alexandria Parisian.

Beale is a two-time First Team All-PacWest selection and was also a First Team All-West Region pick in 2019. Jessee played in just 12 matches in 2019, but was honorable mention All-PacWest in 2018. Kott was a Second Team All-PacWest pick as a true freshman a year ago.

The large 18-player Vulcan roster also includes freshman setter Teia Magaoay (Tracy, Calif.), sophomore libero Mia Takai, sophomore setter Kamryn Mitchell, sophomore middle Kamilla Marinas (who started four matches in 2019), freshman outside Samara Cruz (Escondido, Calif.), sophomore outside Cara Bolte (6-1 transfer from Puget Sound), 6-2 freshman outside Nicole Logan (Huntington Beach, Calif.), sophomore libero Maile Goss, freshman outside Camilla Chun (Honolulu/Farrington) and freshman outside Chloe Culanding (Chesapeake, Virg.).

After this weekend's Oahu tournament, the Vulcans will take a week off before hosting the second tournament of the spring at Vulcan Gymnasium (April 2-3). After another Oahu tournament (April 17-18), the Hawaii schools and Alaska Anchorage will wrap up the spring season back in Hilo on April 23-25.

No fans are allowed this spring at matches here in Hilo or on Oahu. All matches will be video streamed, click on the schedule at hiloathletics. com for more information.