Robert Morris University and the University of Hawaii football teams have reached an agreement to meet on Sept. 26 at Aloha Stadium.
Robert Morris essentially replaces New York-based Fordham, which had its game canceled at UH over concerns about traveling during the pandemic. RMU, which is located in Pennsylvania, is competing as an FCS independent this season while awaiting full membership into the Big South Conference.
The Rainbow Warriors, who compete as a football-only affiliate of the Mountain West Conference, received a scheduling jolt last week when their first four 2020 opponents canceled their games. Arizona, UCLA and Oregon are members of the Pac-12 Conference, which has opted to play only league games this football season. UH was to play Arizona on Aug. 29, UCLA on Sept. 5, and Oregon on Sept. 19. Fordham is a member of the Patriot League.
A school official said UH still is seeking to fill its nonconference schedule. That pursuit also includes a week-zero game on Aug. 29.
As it is now, the game against Robert Morris will serve as the Warriors’ season opener.
Hellvig won’t return to UH volleyball, coach says
Outside hitter Hanna Hellvig, the University of Hawaii volleyball team’s most prolific attacker last season, will not return to the Rainbow Wahine for her sophomore season, head coach Robyn Ah Mow announced today in a release.
“This has been a very tough decision for me to make, but with the ongoing situations and uncertainty with COVID-19 in the United States right now, it doesn’t feel safe for me to go back from the other side of the world,” said Hellvig, who grew up in Sweden, in a news release. “I want to make it clear my withdrawal has nothing to do with the team or the coaches. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to play volleyball and represent the state of Hawaii. I am also grateful for all the dedicated fans who came to every single game and always supported the team. I will miss the girls and the coaching staff a lot, and I will be cheering them on from Sweden from now on. They are great people and deserve nothing but the best.”
As a true freshman in 2019, Hellvig led the Rainbow Wahine to the NCAA Regionals. She was named the Big West Freshman of the Year, as well as being named to VolleyballMag.com’s Freshman All-America team.
Hellvig had a team-high 348 kills (3.11 per set ) while playing all 30 matches, 29 as a starter.
“Hanna was a huge part of our team’s success last year, ” Ah Mow said in a release, “but we understand her concerns and her decision. She is obviously a very talented volleyball player, but also a great person, and we wish her continued success in whatever she decides to do.