HONOLULU – Fans can get their first glimpse of the 2019 University of Hawai'i beach volleyball squad when the SandBows host a weekend of competition at Queen's Beach this weekend. Admission is free for both days.
The Rainbow Wahine will face Big West rival Cal Poly in a pair of afternoon exhibition dual matches on Saturday, Nov. 17 beginning at noon. The following day, beach volleyball newcomer UC Davis will join the fray for a 16-team pairs tournament, beginning at 7 a.m..
On Nov. 17, UH and Cal Poly will compete in a traditional format during its first dual, before playing an experimental "Ryder Cup"-style dual in the second meeting. Instead of submitting a pre-match lineup, each coach will alternate selecting pairs against their counterparts to create the matchups on each court. Cal Poly, led by former Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers, was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally last season.
Meanwhile, UC Davis will hit Queen's Beach on Nov. 18, two days after closing out its indoor campaign versus the Rainbow Wahine at the Stan Sheriff Center. The 2019 season will be the inaugural beach volleyball season for the Aggies. They will join UH and Cal Poly in a 16-team pairs tournament culminating with the championship at 3 p.m., which will be televised live on OC16 Sports.
The SandBows return a dozen players from last year's squad that won a school-record 37 matches and finished one match shy of an appearance in the NCAA finals. Four newcomers join this year's team, highlighted by high school All-American
Kylin Loker and Division I transfer
Julia Scoles, who was an honorable All-American for the North Carolina indoor program.
Saturday, Nov. 17 - Dual Matches
Hawaii vs. Cal Poly, 12 p.m.
Hawaii vs. Cal Poly, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 17 - Pairs Tournament
Round of 16, 7 a.m.
Quarterfinals, 10 a.m.
Semifinals, 12 p.m..
Finals, 3 p.m. (OC16 Sports)
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