HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine beach volleyball team opens the 2026 season Thursday at the OUTRIGGER Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic at Queen’s Beach, and first-year head coach Danny Alvarez made it clear during Monday’s media availability — the expectations haven’t changed.Championships are still the standard. The only difference is the stage is set immediately.
A Veteran Group Ready to Compete
When asked how it feels to finally reach opening week after six weeks of preseason training, Alvarez acknowledged both the length and value of the preparation period. Beach volleyball’s condensed ramp-up can feel long, but he believes this group has used it well.
The roster is heavy with seniors, redshirt juniors and graduate students — a veteran core that has created strong internal competition. In fact, Alvarez admitted depth may be one of the team’s biggest strengths and toughest challenges. There are, he said, “three or four girls that we think are really good that aren’t even going to make the lineup” — a sign of both talent and difficult decisions.The staff is “about 90 percent” settled on pairings, though weather, minor injuries and illness could still impact final tweaks. Continuity has helped. Some duos have prior experience together, and the Brazilian teammates on the roster grew up playing alongside each other, giving the team built-in chemistry across multiple flights.
The Standard at Hawai‘i
When asked about expectations in his first year back at the helm — and whether there’s added pressure as Athletic Director Matt Elliott’s first hire — Alvarez didn’t hesitate.“You come to the University of Hawai‘i to win championships,” he said.Alvarez previously coached in the program for nine seasons and believes the overall talent level mirrors past successful teams. The difference, he emphasized, will be execution. “We have talent… but we got to put it together” — from coaching adjustments to pair cohesion.He also spoke about Elliott’s support in an evolving NIL landscape. With other programs increasing scholarships and resources, Alvarez noted the importance of administrative backing as Hawai‘i works to stay competitive nationally.
Photo by Ku’ulei Agbayani, HSRN
Sarah Burton (21) & Caprice Lorenzo (24) during the 2025 OUTRIGGER Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic .
Growth Within the Roster
When asked which players have taken the biggest steps forward this offseason, Alvarez pointed to several key returners.Sarah Burton and Caprice Lorenzo, who competed at the No. 1 flight last season, have elevated their level and “really gotten very good”. Sophie Buschmann has settled into a more defined role as a blocker and “has played great”. Meanwhile, Sydney Miller, entering her fourth year, has provided steady leadership and consistency throughout the team environment.It’s the type of internal development Alvarez believes is necessary, especially with the caliber of opponents arriving in Waikiki this week.
An Opening Weekend Like Nationals
The Duke Kahanamoku Classic will feature multiple Top-10 programs, including No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 Stanford, among others.Asked what it will be like to open his first tournament back against such elite competition, Alvarez leaned into the opportunity rather than shying away from it. Since his earlier tenure with the program, Hawai‘i has consistently scheduled national contenders. The difference this year is the concentration — many of the nation’s best programs converging in one weekend.He even suggested the field may rival — or exceed — the NCAA Championship in overall strength, noting that every team in the event sits near the top of the rankings.For Alvarez, this is precisely why players choose Hawai‘i. “You want to play against UCLA. You want to play against USC,” he said. The program isn’t interested in easing into the season — it wants to measure itself immediately.
Photo by Ku’ulei Agbayani, HSRN
Sydney Miller battles at the net vs TCU during the 2025 OUTRIGGER Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic.
Queen’s Beach as a Destination
Part of that draw is the venue itself. When asked how much Queen’s Beach has become a collegiate destination site, Alvarez shared that programs around the country are eager to secure spots in future editions of the event.With February weather, the Waikīkī backdrop and Hawai‘i’s status as the birthplace of beach volleyball, teams want to compete here. The Duke Kahanamoku Classic has evolved into more than an early-season tournament — it’s a showcase.Alvarez made it clear that if elite programs are coming to Waikiki, Hawai‘i intends to be at their level.
Building for the Future — Keeping Local Talent Home
Looking beyond this weekend, Alvarez was also asked about recruiting and the importance of retaining local talent. With eight international players currently on the roster, he acknowledged the program’s global footprint but emphasized balance as a priority.“It’s a priority for me,” he said.Hawai‘i’s unique landscape presents recruiting challenges. While the state produces strong indoor players, beach-specific development opportunities are more limited, often centralized in a small pool of athletes. Alvarez said the goal is to project that talent and build a mix of four to five local standouts alongside international and mainland recruits.The message was clear: the BeachBows want to reflect the state while competing with the nation’s best.
