University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa women’s volleyball head coach Robyn Ah Mow released the team’s 2023 schedule. It includes 17 home matches at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, 10 away and two neutral site matches.
Hawaiʻi‘s high-powered preseason schedule features six “Power Five” opponents, and eight of 10 preseason matches are against teams that advanced to the postseason in 2022. After the 2023 regular season, the top six teams in the conference will compete in the inaugural Big West Championship (November 22, 24–25) in Long Beach, California.
The ‘Bows open the season with a bang, hosting the 33rd Annual Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic (August 25–27). UH will open against Northwestern before taking on San Diego, which finished ranked No. 3 in the final 2022 AVCA poll after advancing to the NCAA semifinals. The Rainbow Wahine will battle Oregon in the tourney finale. The Ducks finished last season ranked No. 7 after making it to the NCAA quarterfinals.
For the third-straight season, Hawaiʻi will take on University of Southern California (USC) in a two-game series on August 31 and September 1. The ‘Bows and Trojans have split their last two series. Last season, UH mounted an epic come back for a thrilling, reverse-sweep victory over USC. The Trojans advanced to the NCAA second round.
UH will end its home, non-conference schedule by hosting its second and final tournament, the 26th OUTRIGGER Volleyball Challenge (September 7–10). The Rainbow Wahine will kick off the tournament against 2022 Atlantic Sun champion Liberty, followed by Pepperdine, who is coached by former UH associate coach, Scott Wong. On September 10, the ‘Bows will conclude their home preseason slate against longtime rival UCLA, who is led by first-year head coach and former UH men’s volleyball standout, Alfie Reft.
The Rainbow Wahine will then head to Fort Worth, Texas to compete in the Fight in the Fort tournament. Hawaiʻi will open against host Texas Christian University (TCU) (September 14), followed by Western Carolina (September 15) and Florida State (September 16). The Horned Frogs, Catamounts and Seminoles all advanced to the postseason in 2022, with TCU and FSU playing in the NCAA Tournament and WCU advancing to the quarterfinals of the NIVT tourney.
UH will return to Honolulu to begin defense of its three-consecutive Big West titles with its conference opener against Cal State Bakersfield on September 22, followed by CSUN on September 24. The Rainbow Wahine will hit the road to take on Long Beach State (September 29) and UC San Diego (September 30), then return to face Cal State Fullerton (October 6) and UC Irvine (October 7) at home. UH then has a tough stretch of the schedule with five of next six matches on the road during a 16-day span. The tough road trip begins with matches at UC Santa Barbara (October 13) and Cal Poly (October 14). The ‘Bows will remain on the road for a rare Tuesday game at UC Davis (October 17) before coming home to host a single game on Saturday against UC Riverside (October 21). UH then travels back to the continent to battle CSUN (October 27) and Cal State Bakersfield (October 28). The Rainbow Wahine host Cal Poly (November 3) and UC Santa Barbara (November 4), then head off for their final regular season road trip to play UC Irvine (November 10) and Cal State Fullerton (November 11). The Rainbow Wahine will host their final regular season home matches beginning with UC San Diego (November 17), followed by Senior Night against Long Beach State (November 18).
The top six teams in the conference will then compete in the first-ever Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship (November 23–25). Long Beach State will host the inaugural event at the Walter Pyramid. The top two seeds earn an automatic bye into the semifinal round.
The 2023 Rainbow Wahine are led by All-American middle blocker Amber Igiede and all-conference first teamers Caylen Alexander, Kate Lang and Riley Wagoner. UH welcomes four newcomers (two freshmen and two transfers) into the Rainbow Wahine ʻohana—Stella Adeyemi, Tali Hakas, Jacyn Bamis and Paula Guershing.
For more information, visit the UH Mānoa Athletics website.
