HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball took down No. 16 Alaska in four sets (27-25, 17-25, 25-19, 25-22) on Friday evening to move to 2-0 on Day 2 of the season-opening Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Alohi Garcia led all players with 17 kills while Chase Koepke (15 kills) and Logan Blutreich (13 kills — matched career high) each hit .407. Garcia also led the Vulcans with 18 digs. 'Anolani Santos posted 47 assists.
Hawai'i Hilo opened with a tight 27-25 win in Set 1 before Alaska managed to answer with a 25-17 frame to even the match. The Vulcans took the final two sets to close out the victory and hand the Nanooks their first loss of the early season.
Haylee Lyons led Alaska with 15 kills.
Friday night's result helped settle the matchups for the final day of action as the Vulcans and the 16th-ranked Nanooks will play again Saturday afternoon in the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge "championship" match. Chaminade will play Alaska Anchorage in the morning at 10 a.m.
GAME NOTES
- Part of the Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge hosted by Hawai'i Hilo. Field also includes HPU, Chaminade and Alaska Anchorage.
- No. 16 Alaska defeated Chaminade, 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 13-25, 20-25)
- Alaska Anchorage defeated HPU, 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-18)
- Hawai'i Hilo: 2-0 Overall (0-0 PacWest)
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- No. 16 Alaska: 2-1 Overall (0-0 Great Northwest Conference)
- Fairbanks, Alaska
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Aug. 22 (1 PM) vs No. 16 Alaska (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium) – Hawai'i Alaska Challenge
- Friday, Aug. 28 (7 AM) vs Menlo (Fresno, California) – FPU Sunbird Classic
- Friday, Aug. 28 (1 PM) vs Stanislaus State (Fresno, California) – FPU Sunbird Classic
- Saturday, Aug. 29 (9 AM) vs UC Merced (Fresno, California) – FPU Sunbird Classic
- Saturday, Aug. 29 (3 PM) vs No. 11 Fresno Pacific (Fresno, California) – FPU Sunbird Classic
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 3 in the 2026 PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans finished the 2025 regular season tied at No. 3 in the conference standings. The four-team 2026 PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be hosted by Vanguard University on Nov. 13-14 in Costa Mesa, California.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Season and individual tickets for the Vulcans' 13 home matches at Vulcan Gymnasium are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. Season tickets are $150 for Preferred Seats ($100 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students) and $100 for General Seats ($50 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students).
BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE
Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes for volleyball are offered at $15 and a season-package (12 matches) price of $120 (now $100).
