Big West cancels women’s volleyball, fall sports

In a voice choked with emotion, University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball coach Robyn Ah Mow lamented the loss of what would be the program’s first season in its proud 47-year history.

“I just got off Zoom with my girls maybe 10 minutes ago,” Ah Mow said on a media conference call Thursday after the Big West Conference announced the cancellation of the 2020-21 fall season sports of Wahine volleyball, soccer and cross-country.

“A lot of them were kind of angry, sad (and) disappointed,” Ah Mow said. “I think my girls have to process this just a little bit.”

The three sports had been postponed in the fall with the hopes of resuming competition in the winter or spring. But the Big West Board of Directors, citing health concerns, particularly in California where 10 of the 11 members are located, announced the cancellation.

In addition, the Big West’s announcement put other sports on notice of potential cancellations, saying the conference, “Will continue to monitor and evaluate the current program of COVID-19 medical and safety protocols in men’s and women’s basketball. Basketball will guide a decision regarding a safe return to competition for Big West spring sports. That decision is expected by late January 2021.”

Dave Shoji, former UH coach and Volleyball Hall of Famer, tweeted, “I question the Big West decision to cancel all fall sports. I understand the whole COVID concern, but how is every other conference playing? Big West will suffer consequences.”

If the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament is held as currently planned, it will mark the first time since 1992 that the Rainbow Wahine won’t be part of it. UH has appeared in 38 of the 39 national championship tournaments held by the NCAA.

The Rainbow Wahine’s run of 27 consecutive NCAA appearances began in 1993 when Ah Mow and Angelica Ljungqvist, coaches of the current team, were freshmen.

Ah Mow said she told her players, “It is really sad, especially for the seniors. Obviously there are freshmen, sophomore or junior years that got taken, but the seniors, whether they are going to play again or not play again, we don’t know. I feel for them.”

Soccer coach Michele Nagamine said, “Unfortunately, (the cancellation) was not unexpected when you look at the news every day and the numbers are on the increase in California and the shutdowns and all. I think we understand the severity of it, the issue of what the world is facing. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Cross country coach Tim Boyce termed the cancellation, “A double whammy” after track and field had been cancelled in the spring.

Nagamine said, “The good thing is that (the athletes) are resilient women. I could see it in their eyes.”