University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo women’s volleyball senior LC Nakagawa was named the Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week after totaling 32 digs in sweeps of Westmont and Hawaiʻi Pacific (HPU), October 12 and 16.

Nakagawa kept balls in play over and over. The Oʻahu native had 11 digs in three sets against Westmont and added 21 more in the win over HPU.

The 21 digs is her second highest total of the year, and she has had double-figure totals in 21 of her 22 matches this fall. This is the second all-time Defender of the Week award for Nakagawa, who was also honored in 2025.

The Vulcans (17–5, 9–2 Pac West) head on the road to California for a trio of matches, beginning with Westmont on October 20.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo鈥檚 Jaylen Wan and Kailee McKee both set the new single-round program record by carding rounds of three-under to help the Vulcans team finish runner-up at the Westmont Invitational at Sandpiper Golf Club in Goleta, California.

Wan led the Vulcans with a runner-up individual finish at -3 on rounds of 70 and 73, with nine total birdies over the two rounds.Her 36-hole score of -3 also set a new program record—breaking the previous mark of even par.

McKee climbed 11 spots from 14th to finish tied for No. 3 (+1) on rounds of 77 (+4) and 70 (-3). McKee made four birdies in round 2 to also set the program’s new single-round score of three-under.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo women’s soccer junior goalkeeper Lydia Keller was named Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week for September 14–20. The honor comes after recording her fourth straight shutout in a 2–0 win over Chaminade.

Keller faced 12 Silverswords shots and saved all three shots-on-goal to help the Vulcans win their third straight match. Her four shutouts lead the PacWest through the non-conference slate, giving her 12 career shutouts total.

This marks the third PacWest Defender of the Week honor for Keller in two seasons, who was also named the PacWest Goalkeeper of the Year in 2025.

Read more at .

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Athletics is launching its annual September 21, to support student-athletes and help unlock more than $46,000 in matching gifts.

In partnership with the , the monthlong campaign runs through October 23 and supports scholarships, travel, training and other essential resources for 糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 12 NCAA Division II teams.

“Vulcan student-athletes continue to inspire us every day with their dedication, academic excellence, and accomplishments both in competition and throughout our community,” said Patrick Guillen, 糖心视频 Hilo Athletics Director. “The annual Vulcan Challenge helps provide our teams with the scholarships and resources they need to thrive, and we are deeply grateful to the community and donors who make these opportunities possible.”

KTA Super Stores and the Taniguchi ʻohana are demonstrating support of the Vulcan Challenge by matching the first $25,000 in gifts. Their generosity is joined by a $13,000 matching gift from the Vulcan Booster Club, as well as an additional $5,000 from the Hawaiʻi Rush Soccer Club Big Island to directly support women鈥檚 soccer. Guillen will also match the first $250 for each program, including sports medicine, for a total of $3,250.

The fundraising effort follows a record-setting year for . Seventy-five student-athletes were named to the Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards list after maintaining cumulative grade point averages (GPA) of 3.50 or higher. Across all 12 varsity programs, student-athletes achieved a record 3.37 combined GPA during the 2025-26 academic year, surpassing the previous mark of 3.32.

Beyond competition, Vulcan student-athletes strengthen connections across Hawaiʻi Island through volunteer service, youth outreach and community engagement efforts.

“Our student-athletes continue to inspire us with their accomplishments, but we cannot achieve these results without community support,” said Bonnie D. Irwin, 糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 chancellor. “Every gift to the Vulcan Challenge helps us develop the next generation of Ambassadors of Aloha, students who represent Hawaiʻi Island and our state with pride.”

For Kendall Oda, president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a women’s basketball player for the Vulcans, the support of donors helps make these opportunities possible.

“Every gift to the Vulcan Challenge helps us chase excellence and build a future beyond sports while representing Hawaiʻi everywhere we go,” Oda said. “It’s because of our donors that we can reach our full potential here in Hilo and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

About the Vulcan Challenge

To make a contribution to the Vulcan Challenge and support 糖心视频 Hilo Athletics, visit

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin was designated chair of the Pacific West Conference Executive Board for the 2026–27 academic year.

Composed of university presidents and chancellors from member institutions across Hawaiʻi and California, the PacWest Conference Executive Board provides strategic direction, policy oversight and administrative governance for the NCAA Division II. In her leadership role, Irwin will steer the PacWest through a rapidly changing landscape in NCAA intercollegiate athletics, addressing national governance reforms, student-athlete welfare and institutional sustainability.

“It is an honor to serve as chair during such a pivotal time in collegiate athletics,” Irwin said. “I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the conference to ensure the PacWest continues to promote academic success, athletic competitive excellence and transformative opportunities for our student-athletes.”

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo men’s soccer junior Tim Teicher was named Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week for September 8–13 after making a combined 11 saves (37 total shots faced) across two matches on the road in Colorado.

Teicher recorded five saves in a 2–1 loss to No. 4 UCCS before making six more saves against No. 22 CSU Pueblo in a 1–0 setback. Despite the two losses, Teicher helped keep the Vulcans within striking distance against two of the nation鈥檚 top teams.

The matches marked just the second and third starts of the season for Teicher, a junior transfer student from Coastal Bend College in Texas, who has stepped into a goalkeeper role for the Vulcans.

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has partnered with Athlete鈥檚 Thread to expand Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for Vulcans student-athletes through personalized merchandise and trading cards.

Student-athletes who sign up for the platform can have merchandise custom-branded with their names and designs, giving fans, alumni and supporters another way to directly support Vulcans athletes. Athlete鈥檚 Thread also offers personalized trading cards, adding a collectible option for fans.

“We are thrilled to partner with Athlete鈥檚 Thread to give our Hawaiʻi Hilo Vulcans a seamless platform to capitalize on their personal brand and their Name, Image and Likeness,” 糖心视频 Hilo Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen said. “This collaboration provides our student-athletes with co-branded custom gear while making it easier than ever for our community and fans across Hawaiʻi to support them directly both on and off the field.”

Building NIL opportunities

The partnership provides another avenue for 糖心视频 Hilo student-athletes to build their personal brands and generate income through NIL while developing skills that can support their personal and professional growth.

Athlete鈥檚 Thread partners with more than 415 colleges nationwide and supports more than 50,000 student-athletes through its NIL merchandise platform.

For more information, visit the

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo鈥檚 men鈥檚 soccer junior Keita Goto was named the Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week for September 1—7, after helping lead the Vulcans to a perfect 3—0 start to the season.

Goto has played a key role in the Vulcans’ three defensive wins and scored the only goal in the September 2 victory over UT Dallas on a penalty kick.

“Keita has been instrumental for us this year, providing an immediate impact in our defensive midfield position,” Vulcans head coach Diego Marroquin said. “He was pivotal against Dallas, protecting our backline for 90 minutes while shutting down one of the top midfielders in the Lone Star Conference.”

糖心视频 Hilo is the Team of the Week for the second week straight, and is heading into a three-match trip to Colorado beginning September 9.

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University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo placed 75 student-athletes on the 2025鈥�26 D2 Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards list for attaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

“ Our student-athletes continue to showcase an extraordinary commitment to excellence both in the classroom and in competition,” 糖心视频 Hilo Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen said. “ Balancing a full-time academic schedule with rigorous practice schedules, extensive travel demands and active engagement in our Big Island community is a remarkable achievement.”

糖心视频 Hilo’s 75 honorees were part of more than 21,000 student-athletes recognized from 179 institutions nationally.

This year’s total was one athlete away from matching the Vulcans’ record number of student-athletes set in 2024–25.

View the full list of honorees at .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer programs earned 2025–26 United Soccer Coaches College Team Academic Awards for their achievements in the classroom.

Both Vulcan teams posted cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or higher to qualify for the national recognition.

糖心视频 Hilo was among 777 college soccer teams nationwide to receive the honor, including 326 men鈥檚 and 451 women鈥檚 programs. The university was also one of just 175 schools nationwide to have both its men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer teams recognized.

For more information, visit the .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo women鈥檚 soccer team has been named the winner of the 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Women鈥檚 Team Community Engagement Award after completing 637.5 hours of community service during the year.

The Vulcans volunteered across campus, at local schools and throughout the Hilo community. Their service included M膩lama ʻ膧ina Day, where they picked up trash and planted kalo, along with the Merrie Monarch Festival, Boo at the Zoo and Special Olympics. The team also read to elementary students on Dr. Seuss Day and supported Team IMPACT and Unity Prom.

On campus, student-athletes helped with Move-in Day and health fairs. They also gave back to the local soccer community by assisting with tournaments at Wai膩kea High School, the N膩 Hoa Cup and Mini Big Tournament.

“Excellence at 糖心视频 Hilo extends far beyond the pitch, and this recognition highlights our student-athletes鈥� dedication to giving back and making a meaningful impact throughout the community,” 糖心视频 Hilo Athletics Director Patrick Guillen said.

The honor follows 糖心视频 Hilo鈥檚 PacWest Team Engagement Award for 2024–25.

“What was most rewarding was to observe the growth of our student-athletes over the course of the year,” Head Coach Gene Okamura said. “They took initiative, demonstrated accountability and built meaningful relationships across all of these experiences.”

For more information, visit the .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo ranked No. 23 for team GPA across all NCAA Division II women鈥檚 golf programs for the 2025鈥�26 school year, with a 3.681 GPA.

The achievement for the 2025–26 school year was announced by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.

The 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Champions were the only PacWest Conference team to land inside this year’s top 25, and also placed No. 23 in last year’s rankings.

2025–26 糖心视频 Hilo women鈥檚 golf honorees

• Kieran Florino
• Kiara Kimata
• Trinity Ledgerwood
• Kailee McKee
• Elle Otani
• Kiersten Saludares
• Jaylen Wan
• Erica Yokomoto

Read more at .

Editor驶s note (August 13, 2026): Due to the approach of Tropical Storm Lala, the exhibition match between 糖心视频 Hilo and 糖心视频 M膩noa women’s volleyball teams has been canceled.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo women’s volleyball team will host the 糖心视频 M膩noa Rainbow Wahine in a preseason exhibition match on August 15, 2 p.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

The match marks the Rainbow Wahine’s first trip to Hilo since the 1980s and continues a growing connection between the two 糖心视频 volleyball programs. Last year, the Rainbow Warriors men’s volleyball team traveled to Hilo for an intrasquad scrimmage.

“The last time we played them was in the ’80s, and I think it’s a great connection for us to play a Division I team,” said 糖心视频 Hilo head coach Reed Sunahara.

Sunahara hopes the exhibition will energize the local volleyball community and continue building support for the Vulcans program.

The Vulcans are coming off a 20-9 season in 2025, finishing tied for third in the Pacific West Conference and qualifying for the PacWest Championships. The Rainbow Wahine enter their first season under head coach Joshua Walker.

The two teams last met in an official match in 1990, with 糖心视频 M膩noa holding a 24-0 all-time series advantage.

For more information, visit the .

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo team earned the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2025–26 season. Individually, the team placed six student-athletes on the NABC Honors Court.

This year鈥檚 NABC honors court honorees are Charles Higby Jr., Fabio Da Rocha, Isaiah Hinds, Jamal Entezami, Julio Montes II and Telryn Villa.

NABC Team Academic Excellence Award recognizes programs with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The NABC Honors Court includes junior, senior and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Read more at .

Three University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo golfers were named to the 2025–26 Women鈥檚 Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team.

The awardees were: Trinity Ledgerwood, Kailee McKee, Elle Otani, Kiersten Saludares and Jaylen Wan.

To qualify, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, have amateur status, remain on the team鈥檚 roster through the conclusion of the season and participate in 50% of the college鈥檚 regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year through the team鈥檚 conference championship.

A total of 1,551 women鈥檚 collegiate golfers were nationally recognized with this honor.

Read more at .

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo student-athletes achieved a record-high 3.37 combined grade point average (GPA) during the 2025–26 academic year, surpassing last year’s department record of 3.32 across the university’s 12 varsity sports.

“I’m incredibly proud of our student-athletes for setting a new standard of academic excellence this past year,” 糖心视频 Hilo Director of Athletics Patrick Guillen said. “They prove every single day that championship performance happens both in competition and in the classroom.”

Women’s golf and women’s soccer were named the department’s Ramon Goya Academic Teams of the Year for posting the highest team GPAs in individual and team sports, respectively.

The Vulcans also ranked among the Pacific West Conference’s academic leaders, with women’s cross country (3.64), softball (3.50) and men’s golf (3.46) each finishing in the top three in their respective sports.

糖心视频 Hilo placed 172 student-athletes on the Academic All-PacWest Team, recognizing those who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For more information, visit the .

A total of 172 University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo student-athletes have been named to the 2025–26 Pacific West Conference Academic All-PacWest Team, recognizing their success in the classroom while competing in collegiate athletics.

Eight Vulcans finished the academic year with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Juniors Brandon Wada (baseball) and Lauren Otsubo (softball) were joined by first-year student-athletes Harley Acosta (softball), Johan Bjorken (men’s golf), Jeydon Moises (baseball), Everett Roach (women’s basketball), Johanna Roggenkamp (women’s tennis) and Ella Smith (women’s soccer).

To qualify for Academic All-PacWest honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, complete at least two semesters at their institution and be eligible to compete during the regular season, including redshirt student-athletes.

The conference honored 2,700 student-athletes across its 13 member institutions, setting a new conference record with an average of 208 honorees per school.

For the complete list of 糖心视频 Hilo’s 2025–26 Academic All-PacWest honorees, visit the.

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo standout Koki Hamada has been named the Pacific West Conference Men’s Soccer Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, recognizing his excellence in the classroom and on the field.

Hamada, a Tokyo native, graduated this spring with a bachelor of business administration and a 3.72 cumulative GPA after a four-year career with the Vulcans.

Last season, Hamada helped lead 糖心视频 Hilo to its first NCAA postseason appearance and victory in program history. He was named PacWest Defender of the Year, earned All-PacWest First Team and All-West Region honors, and received Academic All-America recognition.

Hamada shared the conference honor with Menlo College’s Martin Fiala and is 糖心视频 Hilo’s first PacWest Scholar-Athlete of the Year since 2021鈥�22.

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Four University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo golfers have been named to the 2025–26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their success in the classroom and on the course.

The honorees are:

• Jacob Torres (ʻAiea)—senior, chemistry鈥揾ealth sciences
• Kailee McKee (Kapolei)—sophomore, communication
• Elle Otani (Hilo)—senior, accounting and business administration
• Kiersten Saludares (Hilo)—senior, business administration

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes for combined excellence in academics and athletics. Honorees advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.

For more information, visit the .

Two University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo baseball student-athletes have been named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, recognizing their combined success in academics and athletics.

Junior communication majors Noah Darnell of Phoenix, Arizona, and Hunter Gatti of Riverton, Utah, earned the honor for the 2026 season.

The CSC Academic All-District program recognizes student-athletes who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher while making significant contributions to their team’s success during the season.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the national CSC Academic All-America ballot, where student-athletes are considered for additional recognition based on their academic and athletic achievements.

For more information, visit the .