Vulcans Open 2022 Fall Camp

Posted with permission, article and pictures, courtesy of University of Hawaii Hilo

Hawai‘i Hilo’s men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams officially started practice Monday.

HILO, Hawai‘i – The 2022 college sports season got underway on the east side of Hawai‘i island with the Vulcans men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams officially beginning practice Monday morning.

The men’s and women’s soccer teams will have two full weeks of fall camp before classes begin Monday, May 22 while the women’s volleyball squad will gear up quickly to open its non-conference season Friday, Aug. 11 on O‘ahu.

Men’s Soccer

First-year men’s soccer coach Garrett Estrin got his team started fresh and early with a fitness test at Waiakea High School followed by an afternoon training session on the new turf on the Vulcan Soccer Field.

The Vulcan men are split down the middle with 12 newcomers and 12 returnees after 17 departures — 11 to graduation — from a year ago. The incoming class includes nine freshman and two transfers.

With the conclusion of fall camp, the Vulcans will have another two weeks to prepare for their season opener for the first-ever home game on the new on-campus Vulcan Soccer Field.

A field blessing is set to take place Friday, Sept. 2.

The men’s soccer team will open with Cal Poly Humboldt on Sept. 4 before playing Westminster College (Utah) Friday, Sept. 9.

In addition to Estrin, Leonard Garcia-Guerra will join the coaching staff as an assistant. Terry Yamane remains on staff as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, as well as volunteer assistants James Yamane and Todd Inouye.

Season Opener

Men’s Soccer

vs Cal Poly Humboldt

09/04/2022 AT 11 AM

Women’s Soccer

The defending Pacific West Conference champions started the day with a blessing of Hilo rain on the new turf at the Vulcan Soccer Field.

The Vulcans return 18 players and will replace a dozen departures with an equal number of incoming new faces.

Seventh-year head coach Gene Okamura will prepare for a Sept. 1 season-opening game on O‘ahu at St. Louis Field (Chaminade University of Honolulu) as part of a four-game road slate before playing the Vulcans’ first home game Saturday, Sept. 17 against Hawai‘i Pacific University in a non-conference tilt.

Pacific West Conference play will start Monday, Sept. 26 at home against Dominican University of California.

Season Opener

Women’s Soccer

vs Cal State East Bay

09/01/2022 AT 10 AM

Women’s Volleyball

Heading into his fourth season at the helm, Hawai‘i Hilo women’s volleyball head coach Chris Leonard will have a quick turnaround with the season opener less than two weeks away.

The Vulcans will open Aug. 19-20 with the Hawai‘i-Alaska Challenge taking place on O‘ahu at Chaminade University of Honolulu’s and Hawai‘i Pacific University’s respective home courts.

Hawai‘i Hilo will return to O‘ahu a week later for a two-day, four-game slate as part of the inaugural Magic Island Hawai‘i Classic at the Honolulu Convention Center.

With seven departures from a season ago, the women’s volleyball team added an equal number of incoming players for Leonard’s largest recruit class during his tenure.

The Vulcans squad will feature 10-returning players.

Season Opener

Women’s Volleyball

vs University of Alaska Fairbanks

08/19/2022 AT 1 PM

Women’s Cross Country

Women’s cross country will begin training next Monday, Aug. 15.

After a two-season stunted schedule, long-time head coach Jamie Guerpo will have a full plate for the first time since 2019 with the Vulcans set to compete in six meets, including a late-October trip to Washington for the 2022 NCAA D2 Pre-Nationals.

Opening meet will continue the recent trend of traveling to O‘ahu for the Big Wave Invitational hosted by the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

The Vulcans return five runners from a season ago with four additions — two of whom were previous members of the team in seasons prior.

Season Opener

Women’s Cross Country

vs Big Wave Invitational

09/03/2022 AT TBA