WVB: Wahine release schedule, open on road at Texas A&M Invitational

When I ran into Hawai’i coach Robyn Ah Mow, she said she was waiting on one contract. Finally done so …

Today the schedule was released with 15 home matches, 11 away and two neutral site.

The open two-a-days Aug. 9

The schedule: https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule

Season ticket renewal info:  https://etickethawaii.com/Renewal/hawaii_wvball.html

For the first time since 2005 and just the ninth time in program history, the Rainbow Wahine will open its season on the road as they travel to College Station, Texas to compete in the Texas A&M Invitational (August 26-28) taking on host Texas A&M, Pitt, and San Diego.

UH returns for its only home tournament, the Outrigger Volleyball Challenge (Sept. 1-4) with Texas State, West Virginia, and UCLA.

Hawai’i will close its non-conference slate with two matches against USC, Sept. 9 & 10.

The Wahine will play four teams who punched their tickets to the 2021 NCAA tournament: San Diego, West Virginia, UCLA and Pitt who advanced to last year’s national semifinals.

UH has 20 conference matches—10 home and 10 away. The Rainbow Wahine will begin defense of its back-to-back Big West titles at home against UC Davis (Sept. 23) and UC Riverside (Sept. 24). Hawai’i will host its final two home matches against Cal Poly (Nov. 18) and UH’s Senior Night opponent will be CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 20).

“August 26th cannot come soon enough,” Ah Mow said in the release. “We are very excited to hit the ground running with this 2022 schedule as these teams will be a battle and will test our mettle from the very first serve. The teams on this year’s non-conference schedule will prepare our team for another great Big West conference run.”

The Wahine return 10 letterwinners, including all-Big West first team selections Amber Igiede and Kate Lang. Joining them  are a pair of transfers —Talia Edmonds (Michigan State) and Chandler Cowell (St. Mary’s)—plus a highly touted freshman duo of Caylen Alexander, a 6-0 outside hitter/opposite from Alpharetta, Ga., and Jaclyn “Jackie” Matias, a 5-9 setter from Honolulu out of Punahou School.

Hawai’i went 22-8 overall and 18-2 in the Big West, winning its 25th conference title. The Wahine advanced to the NCAA tournament for the 39th time, and 28th consecutive.