HONOLULU, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Pacific University Women's Volleyball has officially released its 2026 season schedule, with the season opening on Aug. 20 in Hilo against Alaska Fairbanks and featuring two meetings apiece with rival Chaminade, PacWest co-champion Point Loma, and conference foe Hawai'i-Hilo. After a difficult 2025 season, the Sharks return a veteran core headlined by their leaders in kills, assists, digs, and blocks as the program looks to build toward more competitive results in 2026.

A Difficult Season, a Foundation to Build On

HPU finished 6-23 overall (1-11 PacWest) in 2025, but the record didn't always tell the story of how competitive the Sharks could be. When matches went the distance, HPU delivered; the Sharks were a perfect 2-0 in five-set matches on the season, including a signature comeback over rival Chaminade. 
HPU also held its own at the net, out-blocking opponents on solo blocks (37 to 38) and committing fewer blocking errors (36 to 45) than the teams across from them. The season's broader numbers: 1,107 kills to 1,356 for opponents and a .144 hitting percentage point to a program still building depth and consistency, but the roster returns nearly every statistical leader from a year ago. The rebuild continues in 2026, with an experienced group looking to turn more of those close sets into wins.

The Upset That Defined October

HPU's signature result of 2025 came against rival Chaminade, which finished third in the PacWest at 9-3. The Sharks knocked off the Silverswords in a five-set thriller at home on Oct. 15, their only conference win of the season, before dropping the rematch in four sets on the road on Oct. 28. 
HPU gets another shot at the rivalry in 2026, hosting Chaminade on Sept. 10 before a road trip to close the season series on Nov. 4.

Facing the Conference's Best, Early and Late

The 2026 schedule brings HPU face-to-face with two of the PacWest's top programs from a season ago. Point Loma, which finished 2025 tied atop the conference at 11-1, swept both meetings with the Sharks. HPU travels to San Diego to face the Sea Lions on Sept. 16 before a home date on Oct. 28. Hawai'i-Hilo, which finished fourth at 9-3, also went 2-0 against HPU last season. The Sharks and Vulcans meet twice more in 2026, Sept. 27 on the road and Nov. 7 at home, giving HPU repeated chances to measure its progress against conference contenders.

Returning Firepower Across the Net

HPU brings back nearly its entire statistical core from 2025. Chayse Hoon (Sr., OH) and Sofia Cooper (Sr., OP) return as the team's top two returning kills threats — they ranked fourth and fifth on the roster in kills a year ago, with 154 and 146, respectively. Jordyn McCutcheon (Gr., S/DS) returns after leading the team with 421 assists, while Lauren Harris (Sr., S/DS) adds 111 assists of her own from the setter position.
Defensively, Taylor Kaoihana-Lee (Sr., L/DS) returns after pacing HPU with a team-high 260 digs, plus 23 service aces, and Ella Schoene (Sr., MB) returns after leading the team with 98 total blocks while starting all 100 sets HPU played. Maile Salang (So., S) adds 319 assists of her own from a season ago.

New Faces Join the Rebuild

HPU added a mix of transfers and true freshmen ahead of 2026. Kare Ann Oshiro (Jr., OH) joins from Simpson University, Raiatea Campbell (Sr., L/DS) transfers in from Eastern Oregon University, and Jordyn Pascone (So., OH) and Ella Snobar (So., OH) add experience from Hartnell College and Brooklyn College, respectively. 
A group of true freshmen also joins the roster, including middle blockers Presley Gibson of Pearl City, Hawai'i, and Ali Hunstock of Temecula, California, along with libero Mayah Nakasato of Kaneohe, Hawai'i and outside hitter Leilani Yanuaria of Torrance, California. 

The Path Forward

With its top hitters, setters, and defenders all back in the fold, HPU enters 2026 looking to turn a rebuilding season into real progress, starting with two more shots at rival Chaminade and measuring-stick matchups against conference contenders Point Loma and Hawai'i-Hilo.

The full 2026 schedule is available on HPUSharks.com.