COSTA MESA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball swept Vanguard, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-14), in Pacific West Conference play Thursday evening at the Freed Center for Leadership and Service.
The opening set was the closest battle between the two teams with four tied scores and three lead changes. Vanguard managed to jump ahead by two points for an 18-16 lead, but the Vulcans poured on five consecutive points to move back ahead and ride to an opening frame victory. Hawai'i Hilo held double-digit leads in both Sets 2 and 3 on the way to the sweep.
Alohi Garcia led Hawai'i Hilo with 11 kills followed by eight kills (.375) from Chase Koepke. Maiah Kalima served four aces without an error to account for half of the Vulcans' eight aces.
Thursday's win was the second stop on Hawai'i Hilo's four-match Southern California road trip.
GAME NOTES
- Total Aces: Hawai'i Hilo 8, Vanguard 1
- Total Service Errors: Hawai'i Hilo 2, Vanguard 9
- Total Blocks: Hawai'i Hilo 3, Vanguard 7
- Hawai'i Hilo: 10-4 Overall (2-1 PacWest)
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. T3
- Vanguard: 4-6 Overall (2-1 PacWest)
- Costa Mesa, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 6
- Current Conference Standing: No. T3
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Sept. 19 (NOON HT / 3 PM PT) at Biola (La Mirada, California)
- Monday, Sept. 21 (3 PM HT / 6 PM PT) at No. 16 Point Loma (San Diego, California)
- Sunday, Sept. 27 (2 PM) vs HPU (Hilo, Hawai'i) – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
- UH Manoa Men's Volleyball Intrasquad Showcase to follow – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
NATIONAL CHAMPS RETURNING TO HILO
The reigning NCAA Men's Volleyball National Champion UH Manoa Rainbow Warriors are returning to Hilo for another interisland intrasquad showcase set for Sunday, Sept. 27 following the Vulcans match with HPU at 2 p.m. inside the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Tickets available at HiloAthletics.com/TIX. More information available at HiloAthletics.com/MVB.
The Vulcan Booster Club is also hosting "A Night of Champions" dinner on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel with all proceeds benefiting Hawai'i Hilo Women's Volleyball. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program will include remarks from both Vulcans and Rainbow Warriors coaches and athletes. Tickets available at HiloAthletics.com/NOC.
AMONG THE BEST
Hawai'i Hilo was marked as having received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association-Taraflex Division II Top 25 Poll released on Sept. 14. The Vulcans totaled seven points and were listed on at least two of the voters' ballots.
PACWEST CONFERENCE 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 SEASON 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 $80).
