HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's volleyball opens the 2023 season hosting the high-powered Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic, Aug. 25-27 at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Hawai'i begins the tourney against Northwestern on Friday at 7:00 p.m. HT. The Rainbow Wahine then take on 13th-ranked San Diego—who advanced to the NCAA semifinals last year—on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. HT. UH concludes the three-day tournament against ninth-ranked Oregon on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. HT. The Ducks advanced to last season's NCAA quarterfinals and features the reigning AVCA Freshman of the Year, Mimi Colyer.
 

33RD RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL - WEEK #11 INFORMATION
Opponent | Date | Time				Friday, Aug. 25 4:45 p.m. HT -  #13 San Diego vs. #9 Oregon 7:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i vs. Northwestern Saturday, Aug. 26 4:45 p.m. HT - #9 Oregon vs. Northwestern 7:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i vs. #13 San Digeo Sunday, Aug. 27 2:45 p.m. HT - Northwestern vs. #13 San Diego 5:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i vs. #9 Oregon
Location				SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, O'ahu
Tickets				ETicketHawaii.com
Promotions				Hawaiian Airlines is the title sponsor of the 33rd Rainbow Wahine Classic  Giveaways - 1,000 Hawaiian Airlines Roller Banners for all three UH matches.  Fans, please visit the sports marketing table (near Gate A) to register for a chance to win great prizes, courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines. Keiki can visit the Spirit Station outside of Gate A for face painting and tattoos prior to each UH match. UH fans can support the Maui relief efforts by making donations to one of these organizations (click here).  Friday (Aug. 25): In the spirit of Aloha Friday, fans are encouraged to wear Aloha attire and the first 200 fans will receive a ti leaf courtesy of Watanabe Floral to the season opener.  Sunday (Aug. 27): UH Alumni Appreciation match. All University of Hawai'i Alumni will receive 50% off upper level adult tickets (maximum of eight) through etickethawaii.com. Tickets are in special sections. Supplies are limited and other restrictions may apply. Use the promo code: https://uhalumni.org/contact/tickets to enter your information and verify your alumni status. The promo code will be disclosed upon completion of the form.
Game Day Information				SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center Game Day Information page
Game Day Rosters				CLICK HERE (PDF)
Virtual Program				CLICK HERE
Television				Spectrum OC16 - Ch. 16 (SD) or Ch. 1016 (HD) - Kanoa Leahey (Play-by-Play), Chris McLachlin (Color); Scott Robbs, Lisa Strand, Ryan Kalei Tsuji (Fri,Sat), Mylana Byrd (Sun.) (Pre/Post Game)
Live Stream				ESPN+ (Blacked out in Hawai'i) - Only for UH matches Friday - ESPN+ Saturday - ESPN+ Sunday - ESPN+
Radio				ESPN Honolulu | 1420 AM / 92.7 FM | Tiff Wells (play-by-play)
Live Audio Stream				ESPNHonolulu.com  | Sideline Hawaii App
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Game Notes				Hawai'i  |  Northwestern  | San Diego | Oregon
Social Media				@HawaiiWVB  | #HawaiiWVB #GoBows | @HawaiiWVB  | Facebook

HAWAI'I VS. NORTHWESTERN WILDCATSOverall series record: UH, 4-0. Streak: UH won 4.
Last meeting: UH swept the Wildcats in 2013, 25-12, 25-13, 25-19
2022 Record: 18-14, 7-13 Big Ten (10th)
Head Coach: Shane Davis (Eighth Season) HAWAI'I VS. No. 13 SAN DIEGO TORERROSOverall Series: UH 5-4. Streak: USD, won last two.
Last Meeting: USD swept UH last year at the Texas A&M Invitational in the season opening tourney, 18-25, 21-25, 23-25. UH has squared up against USD four times in the last three seasons (UH didnot play in 2020)
2022 Record: 31-2, 18-0 West Coast Conference (First)
Head Coach: Jennifer Petrie (25th Season)

HAWAI'I VS. No. 9 OREGON DUCKSOverall series: UH, 7-4. Streak: UO, won last three.
Last meeting: In 2018 UH fell to the Ducks twice in back-to-back matches. Oregon won in four on 9/13/18 and narrowly avoided a reverse sweep on 9/14/18, defeating UH in a thrilling five sets, 23-25, 10-25, 25-22, 25-23, 12-15.
2022 Record: 26-6, 17-3 PAC-12 (Second)
Head Coach: Matt Ulmer (Seventh Season) NEWS & NOTESMaui Nō Ka 'Oi - In recognition of the devastating Maui wildfires, the Rainbow Wahine will be wearing a special patch on their sleeves for this season. Our condolences and prayers go out to all of those affected in the tragic event on the Valley Isle. Many in our UH 'ohana, including current and past student-athletes, coaches, and staff have been personally affected. If you would like to help, click on the following link to organizations who are making a direct impact on the recovery and rebuilding in both Lahaina and Upcountry Maui. (CLICK HERE)

• Veteran Squad Returns For 2023 - The three-time defending Big West champion Rainbow Wahine return nine players—including six starters—from last year's team that went 22-7 overall and 19-1 in conference to advance to its 29th-consecutive and 40th-overall NCAA Championship tournament. With five juniors and six seniors, the upperclassmen lead the 'Bows into 2023 and are looking to improve upon how their season ended in 2022. Last year, UH finished first in the conference in kills/set, hitting percentage and assists/set. Hawai'i's returnees accounted for 77% of last year's kills combining for a .278 hitting percentage, led by Big West Player of the Year, Amber Igiede who set a new UH single season record with a .433 hitting percentage. Riley Wagoner and Igiede are the senior statesmen playing all five years at Hawai'i (BW did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19).
• Picked to Finish First; Three Earn BW Preseason Honors - Hawai'i was picked to finish first in the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll as voted by the league's 11 head coaches. Three Rainbow Wahine—Amber Igiede, Kate Lang and Caylen Alexander—earned spots on the Preseason All-Big West Team. Hawai'i received 10 first place votes while garnering 100 total points. The teams ranked No.'s 2-4 were separated by just two points with UC Santa Barbara coming in second with 83, Long Beach State was voted third with 82 points and received the last first place vote. Cal Poly was picked fourth with 81 points. Since returning to the Big West in 2012, UH has been voted to finish first nine times—including the last three-straight.
• Tough Preseason Slate Awaits Wahine - UH, which received 49 votes in the AVCA Coaches' Preseason Poll, will quickly see how they stack up nationally as they take on a tough gauntlet of opponents this preseason. After facing Northwestern out of the Big Ten, the 'Bows will battle a pair of ranked teams in the Rainbow Wahine Classic--9th-ranked Oregon and 13th-ranked San Diego. Following the opening tournament, UH will take on No. 22 USC in a pair of home matches in Week 2. The Rainbows' homestand will continue with the OUTRIGGER Volleyball Challenge where they will take on Pepperdine who is also receiving votes before closing the tourney against long-time rival UCLA. In UH's final preseason tournament, UH will go up agianst two more teams receiving votes--host TCU and Florida State. In all, seven of UH's first 11 matches are against team that are currently ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll.
• 'Bows in Brazil - The Rainbow Wahine traveled for a 13-day tour of Brazil where they played a series of matches in four different cities. The invaluable learning and bonding experience included cultural excursions and some sighseeing in addition to their matches in Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Saquarerma and Arraial do Cabo. Among the sights the 'Bows visited were the Fiera da Praca Benedicto Calixto (Open Market), Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Pao de Azucar (Sugarloaf Mountain), and the white sand beaches of Arraial do Cabo. Hawai'i won all of its matches—including a five set thriller over the U19 Brazil National team to end their trip. It marked the team's first international trip since former head coach Dave Shoji took the 'Bows on a four country, European tour in 2015.
• Ah Mow Leads the Way - Head coach Robyn Ah Mow enters her sixth season (seventh overall) at the helm of the Rainbow Wahine women's volleyball program (UH did not compete in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). She has led Hawai'i to three-consecutive Big West titles in 2019, '21. and '22. She and her staff have extended the 'Bows streak of advancing to the NCAA tournament to 29-straight and 40 overall appearances. In 2022, Ah Mow recorded her 100th career win at UC Davis in a five-set victory over the Aggies on Oct. 29, 16-25, 25-12, 28-26, 19-25, 15-9. In 2019, Ah Mow guided the team to the NCAA Regional round for the first time since 2015. For her efforts, the former UH All-American and three-time Olympian was named the Big West Co-Coach of the Year and AVCA Pacific North All-Region Coach of the Year in 2019 and BWC Coach of the Year twice more in 2021 and '22.
• Igiede Returns As One of Top MIddles in the NCAA - Senior middle blocker Amber Igiede returns for her final season after earning third-team All-America honors last year. She led the Big West with 406 total kills while averaging a conference-best 3.79 kill/set and 4.89 points/set. She also led the BW with a .433 hitting percentage which was fifth-best in the NCAA DI. At the net, she was just as dominant, finishing second in the league with 138 total blocks and 1.29 blocks/set. Igiede was the 10th Rainbow Wahine to earn Big West Player of the Year honors—and the third straight following Norene Iosia and Brooke Van Sickle. Since rejoining the BW in 2012, seven UH players have earn top honors—Emily Hartong (2012, '13), Nikki Taylor (2015, '16), Iosia (2019) and Van Sickle (2021). This is Igiede's third time earning First Team honors. Overall, Igiede is the 10th UH player to earn top honor 11 times. She is just the second middle hitter to accomplish the feat, joining her former assistant coach Angelica Ljunqvist who won it in 1995. UH tied Long Beach State for the most BW Player of the Year awards in conference history. Overall, Igiede is the 28th Hawai'i player to earn conference Player of the Year (Pacific Coast Athletics Association – 1; Big West – 11; WAC – 16). After her standout season, Igiede was one of five middles Invited to the Women's National Team Spring Training in Colorado Springs. She spent seven days in March training under U.S. Women's National Team head coach Karch Kiraly and his staff.
• Lang at Controls of Offensive Attack - Kate Lang returns for her junior season after earning the inaugural BW Setter of the Year award in 2022. Last season, she  elevated her game, recording career-highs of 1,102 assists, 24 service aces, 58 kills and 42 blocks. For her efforts, Lang earned all-BW first team honors for the second-straight season. At UC Santa Barbara (11/25/22) she posted a new career-high with six kills, tied her career-high with 17 digs and dished out a season-best 55 assists. The Keller, Texas-native surpassed the 2,000 career assist mark with 47 assists in UH's final game of the season vs. LSU in the NCAA First Round. She led UH with nine double-doubles in 2022.
• Alexander Returns Stronger for Sophomore Campaign - Caylen Alexander earned 2022 BW Freshman of the Year honors after receiving a league-high and UH record, six BW Freshman of the Week aw­ards last year. As a true freshman, Alexander led Hawai'i with 33 service aces while putting down 295 kills, averaging 2.78 kills/set with a .237 hitting percentage to go with 26.0 total blocks. The Alpharetta, Ga.-native appeared in all 29 matches, with eight starts. The athletic outside hitter recorded double-digit kills in 16 matches with a match-high of 18 kills on two occasions. She posted a trio of double-doubles popping up double-digit digs against UCLA, USC and UC San Diego.
• The Silent Assassin - Senior outside hitter Riley Wagoner is looking to close out her UH career with a bang. The steady six-rotation pin-hitter from Dublin, Ohio earned All-BW first team honors for the first time last season. Last year she made a marked improvement across the board, recording career highs of 356 kills, 3.33 k/s, 23 aces, 265 digs and 43 blocks. She pounded 20+ kills three times last year--including a career-high 25 against UC San Diego (10/8/22). Wagoner also recorded double-digit digs in 15 matches last year
• Evans Looking to Make Big Impact - Last year, middle blocker Kennedi Evans transferred to UH as a junior after suffering a season-ending injury in her redshirt-sophomore season at Utah. The Twin Falls, Idaho-native comes into this season stronger and ready to roll. She will provide a formidable blocking presence as well as offense in the middle. Although she appeared in just seven games last year, she will see a much larger role in her final collegiate season.
• Versatile Ham to Make Impact - Senior Kendra Ham was UH's utility players last year, primarily coming in as a serving/defensive specialist but also seeing time as a pin-hitter. Whereever she can help the team is where the San Diego-native will play. Ham transferred to UH after playing a season at conference rival Cal Poly. She graduated this past spring with a degree in Human Development & Family Science but returned for her final season at UH. Last year she appeared in all 29 matches with one start a opposite. She finished third on the team with 226 digs to go with 23 aces, 22 kills and five blocks.
• Matias Making UH Debut - Redshirt freshman Jackie Matias will make her Rainbow Wahine debut after sitting out last season as a true freshman. A highly touted setter out of Punahou School, she helped lead the Buff and Blue to a league championship in 2021 while finishing second in the state tournament in 2019 and '21. Matias is a second-generation athlete to wear the Green and White. Her father John Matias, Jr. was a hard-hitting first baseman/designated hitter on the UH baseball team (1986-89). His 30 career home runs still is the most in UH baseball history and he is the program's single-season all-time leader with a .723 slugging percentage in 1988. Matias' mother Jennifer is also a UH alumna who was a Rainbow Dancer during her time at UH
• Two Walk-ons Roundout Roster - The two newest Rainbow Wahine are a couple of junior transfers walk-ons who are returning home to Hawai'i. No. 2 Colby Lane is a 2019 graduate of McKinley HS and she played two seasons at SeattleU as a libero/defensive specialist before coming back to O'ahu to attend UH for the last two years. She recorded 86 digs, nine assists and four service aces in her Redhawk career. Tyla Reese Mane played two seasons at Casper College (Wyo.) prior to metriculating to UH this fall. At Casper, she ppeared in 93 sets across 37 matches recording 94 total kills, 64 digs, and 62 total blocks. The athletic Mane (pronounced MAW-nay) is a 2021 graduate of 'Aiea High School where she earned six varsity letters—three in volleyball, two in soccer and one as the varsity football kicker. Mane has a cousin and an uncle who played football for the Rainbow Warriors and two cousins who played on the UH softball team.
• Hakas Brings the Heat - True freshman Tali Hakas comes to UH after serving two years in the Israeli Army where she concluded her service with a rank of sergeant. Hakas, who was born in Uruguay and moved to Israel when she was 12 years old speaks three languages fluently--Spanish, Hebrew and English. The high-energy Hakas is an athletic pin-hitter who competed on the U21 Israeli National Team in the European Championships and the European qualifiers with the Senior National team. Academically, she earned certificates of excellence every semester of high school. Hakas played for the Hapoel Kfar Saba club team for four years and won the national championship in 2020 and '21 while also winning the National Cup in 2021.
• Adeyemi Making Name for Herself - True freshman Stella Adeyemi looks to provide some power at the pins. The athletic, high-flying outside has the ability to terminate and create kills. She helped the Papillion-Lavista South HS to win the three state championships in 2019, '21, '22 while finishing runner-up in 2020. The Nebraska-native earned all-state, all-state tournament, Class A All-Tournament team honors and was named Offensive Player of the Year in the state tourney. 
• Guersching Looking to Light up the Stan - The signing of 6-2 pin-hitter, Paula Guersching brings another offensive option into the lineup. The 2022 Horizon Player of the Year dominated her first two collegiate seasons at Youngstown State. In her final year as a Penguin, Guersching ranked in the NCAA top five, finishing third with 5.24 kill/set and 5.87 points/set; fifth with 12.84 attacks/set and 576 total kills; and sixth with 646.0 total points—all of which were YSU single-season records. The Schwalbach am Taunus, Germany-native became the fastest player in YSU history to reach 1,000 career kills finishing her two seasons with 1,006 while becoming the first YSU player to earn AVCA All-America honorable mention honors.
• Bamis Provided Depth at Middle - Sophomore Jacyn Bamis transferred to UH this past January after playing for Clemson for one season. The athletic middle blocker started 15 matches for the Tigers while making 17 appearances. She recorded 81 kills and 42.0 blocks for the season. Bamis was in on a career-high 11 blocks against South Carolina (9/6/22) while putting down a career-high 10 kills and a .615 hitting percentage against Murray State (9/17/22). The Spokane, Wash.-native earned all-league and all-state honors while playing at Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Wash.. She hit .300 with 148 kills in 111 sets as a Bullpup.
• Back Row Defenders - Hawai'i's back row is quarterbacked by two-year starting libero, junior Tayli Ikenaga.  Last season, although she missed a few matches due to injury, she led the team with 299 digs, averaging 3.18 d/s. Senior Talia Edmonds appeared in all 29 matches as a defensive specialist and scooped up 211 digs (1.97 d/s) with 46 assists and eight service aces. The Michigan State transfer recorded a team season best 28 digs against UC San Diego as the starting libero last year.
• Cowell Out for Season - Senior pin-hitter Chandler Cowell suffered a season-ending knee/leg injury the week before the team's trip to Brazil. The Kula, Maui native underwent surgery to repair the severe damage and is currently working hard in rehab. But she is doing as much for the team as she can--including interning with the media relations office for both men's and women's volleyball and beach volleyball. The graduate student who transferred from St. Mary's (Calif.) is attaining her master's degree in Communications