PacWest Conference Hawai’i Challenge Debuts

Saturday night’s PacWest Conference women’s volleyball contest at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo gymnasium between the Vulcans and BYU-Hawai’i will be the official kickoff to the inaugural PacWest Hawai’i Challenge.

The Hawai’i Challenge includes all four Division II programs in the state: UH-Hilo, BYU-Hawai’i, Chaminade University, and Hawai’i Pacific University.

“We are looking forward to this fun and exciting challenge,” said Patrick Guillen, UH-Hilo athletic director. “This perpetual trophy will continue to solidify our rivalries and make it enjoyable to keep track of our student-athletes and community ‘ohana.”

Nine sports will be covered in the challenge. In the team sports – women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, and softball – schools earn points for head-to-head wins or ties in each sport. At the end of each sport’s season, the top school gets four points toward the overall standings. The second place school gets three points, third place receives two, and the last school gets just one point.

Three other sports – cross country, tennis, and men’s golf – are involved. Points for each of these sports will be determined at the PacWest championships.

At the end of the sports year, the top school will be presented with a trophy by athletic directors from the other three schools.