HONOLULU — Thursday marked Day 1 of a new era for University of Hawai'i women's volleyball.
 
The Rainbow Wahine assembled at Gym 1 for their first practice under new head coach Joshua Walker in preparation for a 2026 season headlined by transitions in the coaching staff and conference membership.
 
Since being announced as the program's fourth head coach on June 5, Walker has spent much of his summer putting together a new coaching staff and laying the groundwork for a season that will include the program's first campaign in the Mountain West Conference.
 
Walker assembled a staff that now includes three members who earned national accolades in their coaching careers: Walker (2019 AVCA Men's Assistant Coach of the Year), associate head coach Heather Olmstead (2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year) and assistant coach Kolby Kanetake (2024 AVCA D-II Assistant Coach of the Year). He rounded out the group by bringing Will McDonald over from Baylor, where they worked together for the past three years.
 
McDonald and Kanetake joined Walker in leading Thursday's practice while Olmstead was traveling to Chile as head coach of the U.S. U17 national team and will join the 'Bows in Mānoa following the FIVB Girls U17 World Championship.
 
"For me it was just making sure that as we kind of get things going that we're all on the same page and we all have strengths that we know we can balance off each other," Walker said.
 
Once on the court, the 'Bows set about the process of learning the systems Walker will implement in preseason camp while blending the talents of a roster featuring eight returnees and seven newcomers.
 
Outside hitter Tali Hakas returns as the longest-tenured member of the roster after missing all but three matches last season following shoulder surgery. Now entering her fourth year in the program, Hakas returned to action in the back row for UH's spring exhibitions with Louisville.
 
"I think my face says it all," a beaming Hakas said when asked about getting back into practice. "I am really excited. I've been dreaming about this day. It's finally here, so just go after it."
 
The 'Bows also return four players who earned All-Big West honors last season. Cha'lei Reid was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team after putting away a team-high 335 kills. Reid also established herself as a threat from the service line with 44 aces, the program's highest single-season total since 2019.
 
Adrianna Arquette's first season running the UH attack included two Big West Setter of the Week awards, 10 double-doubles and two triple-doubles. Victoria Leyva earned the libero jersey a year ago and her average of 4.14 digs per set ranked fourth in program history. Miliana Sylvester has started all 60 matches over her first two seasons and ranked second on the team last season with 95 total blocks.
 
"I think at the end of the day, Hawai'i Volleyball has always been Hawai'i Volleyball," Sylvester said. "So to stick with that and what we know, to stick with our fans and the people that stick by us, I think that's something that hopefully people can cling to and look up to. The people coming in and the underclassmen to just know that we're playing for something bigger than ourselves."
 
UH returns a deep group in the back row with senior Leilani Lopez and sophomores Jaci Miyasaki and Kahea Moriwaki all seeing significant playing time last year.
 
The group of newcomers includes two transfers who enrolled in the spring semester in pin hitters Maëli Cormier and Panna Ratkai. Cormier earned WCC All-Freshman Team honors at Oregon State last season and Ratkai was an AVCA All-America honorable mention pick two years ago at Purdue Fort Wayne. Marnie Ursem, a middle blocker from New Zealand, also brings experience to the roster after spending two seasons at UNC Wilmington.
 
The freshman class includes two international student-athletes in outside hitter/opposite Mano Antiga and setter Manon Baudrillard. Libero/defensive specialist Cameron Holcomb and middle blocker Rachel Purser bring impressive high school accolades to the program.
 
The run-up to the season will include two exhibition matches against local collegiate competition. The 'Bows will travel to Hawai'i Island to take on UH Hilo on Aug. 15 at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. They'll then face Chaminade on Aug. 17 in their first appearance at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. UH officially opens the season by taking on Georgia Southern on Aug. 28 in the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic.
 
Season tickets are now on sale and may be purchased at www.etickethawaii.com or at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center box office (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).