2017 Beach Volleyball Preview:
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HONOLULU – The No. 5 University of Hawai'i beach volleyball team opens up its 2017 season this weekend with two days of action in Arizona. The SandBows will face a trio of teams in the Arizona Invitational beginning Friday, March 3, before facing Grand Canyon in stand-alone dual match on Saturday March 4.
 
On Friday, UH will play its first match of the season against Arizona State (9:00 a.m. HT) before taking on host Arizona, ranked sixth nationally, later in the day (3:00 p.m. HT). The 'Bows will wrap up the Invitational with a Saturday morning contest vs. Jacksonville (6:00 p.m. HT). UH will then travel up the road from Tucson to Phoenix, where they will face No. 12 Grand Canyon (3:00 p.m. HT) for their fourth and final match of the opening weekend.
 
Head Coach Jeff Hall begins his third year heading the beach volleyball program which has its sights set on a national title run this season. A total of 13 players return from the 2016 squad that captured the Big West Tournament and finished fourth in the inaugural NCAA Championships.  Among the returnees are Emily Maglio, the 2016 Big West Freshman of the Year and an AVCA All-American. Two-time All-American Nikki Taylor also returns for her senior campaign. The squad is further bolstered by a freshman class that features four AVCA beach high school All-Americans.
 
Quick Set
Matches 1-3
What: Arizona Invitational
Who: No. 6 Arizona, Arizona State, No. 5 Hawai'i, Jacksonville
When: March 3-4
Where: Arizona Beach Volleyball Courts - Tucson, Ariz.
Series History: UH is a combined 5-0 all-time against Arizona (3-0), Arizona State (1-0), and Jacksonville (1-0)… this will be the team's first-ever visit to Tucson….UH eliminated Arizona in last year's NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.
 
Match 4
Who: No. 12 Grand Canyon
When: March 4, 3:00 p.m. HT
Where: GCU Beach Volleyball Stadium - Phoenix, Ariz.
Series History: UH is a perfect 4-0 all-time against Grand Canyon, including a 5-0 road win in Phoenix during the 2013 season.