HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball welcomes 13 newcomers in Vulcans head coach Reed Sunahara's second season.
The 13 newcomers mark the program's largest incoming class in the last 10 years.
"We got a good balance of experienced players — D1 players, kids coming back home and local players," Sunahara said. "I like the balance. The upperclassmen will bring a lot of experience into the program, and the younger players will learn from them and gain that experience. We can't have just older players, and we also can't have just younger players. It's a good mixture, and we've got some good pieces."
Hawai'i Hilo will have a roster total of 20 athletes entering the upcoming fall split right down the middle with 10 upperclassmen (six seniors) and 10 underclassmen (seven freshmen). Seven players are returning from a season ago after 12 departures — four to graduation/exhausted eligibility.
The Vulcans posted a 20-9 record in 2025, finishing tied for No. 3 in the Pacific West Conference standings and qualifying for the four-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament.
First official practice sessions are set for Aug. 10. Hawai'i Hilo hosts the University of Hawai'i at Manoa for an exhibition on Aug. 15 followed by the season-opening Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge running Aug. 20-22 — both at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
2026 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL ROSTER
- Roster Total: 20
- Seniors: 6
- Upperclassmen: 10
- Returners: 7
- Newcomers: 13
- Freshmen: 7
- Incoming Transfers: 6
- 2025 Departures: 12 (4 Graduated / Exhausted Eligibility)
NEWCOMERS POSITIONS
- Middle Blocker: 5
- Setter: 2
- Defensive Specialist: 4
- Outside Hitter: 1
- Opposite: 1
NEWCOMERS HOME STATE/COUNTRY
- Hawai'i: 7
- Texas: 2
- Nevada: 1
- Oregon: 1
- Washington: 1
- Canada: 1
MB | 6'2 | SR-R | Eugene, OR | Hamilton HS / Pacific
» Four seasons at University of the Pacific (California) (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Greg Gibbons
» Played in 73 matches (241 total sets) making 60 starts through four seasons with the Tigers
» Sidelined 2024 season with an injury
» Totaled 338 kills, 60 digs and 124 total blocks (34 solo)
» 2026 (Spring) B.A. Media Arts and Production (Pacific)
» 2025 Fall West Coast Conference All-Academic HM (Pacific)
» 2021 graduate of Hamilton High School (Arizona)
» Four seasons of varsity volleyball
» 2021 Arizona 6A State Champion
» Other Sports: Track & Field
» T&F: 2022 Arizona 6A Shot Put State Champion
» Club/Travel Teams: Arizona Storm Elite
Major: Art
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I loved the coaching staff and the campus is beautiful!"
L/DS | 5'3 | SR | Hilo, HI | Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i / Grambling State + Dodge City CC
» One season at Grambling State University (Louisiana) (NCAA D-I)
» Played in 26 matches (83 total sets) through one season with the Tigers
» Totaled 22 aces and 333 digs
» Posted 21 digs and 6 assists vs Southern (Nov. 10, 2025)
» Two seasons at Dodge City Community College (Kansas) (NJCAA)
» Played in all 68 possible matches (257 total sets) through two seasons with the Conquistadors
» Finished with 37 digs vs Jefferson College (Aug. 19, 2023)
» (5x) Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Defensive Player of the Week
» 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team (Dodge City CC)
» 2024 All-KJCCC Second Team Libero (Dodge City CC)
» 2024 Victory Electric Classic All-Tournament Team (Dodge City CC)
» 2023 All-KJCCC Second Team Libero (Dodge City CC)
» 2023 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i
MB | 6'2 | SR-R | Mississauga, ON, Canada | Cawthra Park Secondary School / Loyola Maryland + Hofstra
» Three seasons at Loyola University Maryland (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Alija Pittenger
» Played in 37 matches (125 total sets) making 35 starts through three seasons with the Greyhounds
» Totaled 199 kills, 30 aces, 31 digs and 69 total blocks
» Did not play in any matches in 2025
» 2026 (Spring) B.B.A. Marketing (Loyola Maryland)
» (3x) Fall Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (Loyola Maryland)
» One season at Hofstra University (New York) (NCAA D-I)
» Played in 14 matches (27 total sets) making five starts through one season with the Pride
» Totaled 30 kills and 10 total blocks
» 2022 Fall Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (Hofstra)
» 2022 graduate of Cawthra Park Secondary School, Ontario, Canada
» Career Aspirations: CEO of a Marketing firm
Major: Accounting
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "For the coaching and location."
S | 5'8 | JR | Mililani, HI | Mililani HS / Seattle
» Two seasons at Seattle University (Washington) (NCAA D-I) playing for coach Dan Behnke
» Appeared in 35 matches (109 total sets) making six starts through two seasons with the Redhawks
» Totaled 451 assists and 139 digs
» Career High: 23 Assists (3 Aces, 5 Digs) vs Eastern Washington (Sept. 18, 2025)
» Career High: 12 Digs (22 Assists, 2 Aces) vs Tarleton State (Nov. 16, 2024)
» Career High: 23 Assists (4 Digs, 2 Blocks) vs Portland (Sept. 14, 2024)
» 2024 graduate of Mililani High School (Hawai'i)
» Three seasons of varsity volleyball for coaches Val Crabbe, Pi'i Crabbe
» Honors: O'ahu Interscholastic Association West Division Player of the Year, (2x) All-OIA First Team
» 2023 OIA Division I Champion
» Club/Travel Teams: Maunalani Volleyball Club, 808 Athletics Club, Aloha State Volleyball Club and Maunalani 808 Hui Volleyball Club, Jammers Volleyball Club
Major: Psychology
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "Good culture, hard working, competitive and home away from home."
DS | 5'8 | JR | Hilo, HI | University Lab School / Grand View
» Two seasons at Grand View University (Iowa) (NAIA) playing for coach Devon Wells
» Played in all 63 matches (235 total sets) through two seasons with the Vikings
» Totaled 847 digs
» Posted 30 digs in a 3-1 W vs Mount Mercy (Oct. 28, 2025)
» 2025 Heart of America Athletic Conference Regular Season Champion
» 2025 Heart All-Conference Second Team
» 2024 Heart All-Conference HM
» 2024 graduate of University Laboratory School (Hawai'i)
» Three seasons of varsity volleyball for coaches Brad Miller, Justin Ole'ole, Walter Quintan
» Honors: (3x) Interscholastic League of Honolulu All-Star, Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division II All-Tournament Team
» HHSAA Division II State Champion, ILH Champion
» Club/Travel Teams: Pure Aloha VBC
» Career Aspirations: Physical Therapy, Volleyball Coach
Major: Kinesiology & Exercise Sciences
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "To play in front of my family at home."
OH | 6'0 | JR | Hilo, HI | Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki / Saint Mary's
» Two seasons at Saint Mary's College (California) (NCAA D-I) playing for coaches Rob Browning, Tyler Hilderbrand
» Played in 43 matches (145 total sets) making 34 starts through two seasons with the Gaels
» Totaled 125 kills, 62 digs and 95 total blocks
» Career High: 7 Total Blocks (5 K, 4 Digs) vs San Francisco (Oct. 31, 2024)
» 2025 West Coast Conference All-Academic HM
» 2024 graduate of Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki (Hawai'i)
» Three seasons of varsity volleyball at Hilo High School
» Club/Travel Teams: 'Eleu Athletics
Major: Communication
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "There's honestly nothing like being home in Hawai'i. I spent my first half of my college career on the mainland doing my best to represent where I'm from. But now that those years have passed, I want to come back and represent Hawai'i in a different way by going to school here, staying close to my family and giving back to my community. It feels like the right place for me to grow, stay connected and continue building a future that honors where I come from."
OPP | 6'0 | FR | Keller, TX | Keller HS
» 2026 graduate of Keller High School (Texas)
» Three seasons of varsity volleyball for coach Danielle Barker
» Honors: 2025 Academic All-State, (2x) Academic All-District
» Club/Travel Teams: Dallas Skyline 18 Royal
» First Name: Lillian
» Nickname: Lil Boat
» Career Aspirations: Marketing/Sales
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "It has a great family atmosphere."
L/DS | 5'6 | FR | Hilo, HI | Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i
» 2026 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i
» Four seasons of varsity volleyball
» (4x) Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I Champion
» Honors: (3x) All-BIIF First Team
» Club/Travel Teams: Pilipa'a Na Wahine
» Nickname: Blue
Major: Psychology
S | 5'10 | FR | Hilo, HI | Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki
» 2026 graduate of Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u Iki (Hawai'i)
» Four seasons of varsity volleyball at Hilo High School
» Club/Travel Teams: Na Ihe Laumeki, Pilipa'a Na Wahine, Spike & Serve
Major: Communication
MB | 6'2 | FR | Las Vegas, NV | Faith Lutheran HS
» 2026 graduate of Faith Lutheran High School (Nevada)
» Club/Travel Teams: Top-Flight Volleyball Academy, 1st Alliance VBC
Major: Administration of Justice
DS | 5'5 | FR | Texas | Birdville HS
» 2026 graduate of Birdville High School (Texas)
» (2x) National Champion, (2x) Caribbean Volleyball Champion, Caribbean Volleyball Champion Finalist, Big South Runner-Up, Lonestar Classic Champion
» Honors: Caribbean All-Star Team, All-District Second Team, Academic All-District
» Club/Travel Teams: Integrity Volleyball Club
» Other Sports: Pole Vault, Track, Cross Country, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Baseball
» First Name: Elizabeth
Major: Business Administration
MB/OH | 6'2 | FR | Kahului, HI | Maui HS
» 2026 graduate of Maui High School (Hawai'i)
» Four seasons of varsity volleyball for coach Kenneth Houpo
» Honors: Maui Interscholastic League All-Star First Team
» Other Sports: Soccer
» Club/Travel Teams: Lanakila Volleyball Academy
» Nickname: Stellar
Major: Business Administration – Finance
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "The incredible environment including both on the island and within the campus community. Everyone including the coaches and staff provides such an amazing support system showing genuine guidance to point me in the best possible direction for my future!"
MB | 6'2 | FR | Lynden, WA | Lynden Christian HS
» 2026 graduate of Lynden Christian High School (Washington)
» Four seasons of varsity volleyball for coaches Dennis Jansen, Kristy Van Egdom
» (3x) District Champion
» Club/Travel Teams: Washington Volleyball Academy
» First Name: Allison
Major: Business Administration
Why Hawai'i Hilo: "I wanted to continue to pursue my volleyball career at a higher level along with going to college somewhere I can see God's creation all around me!"
