The new year begins with a clash of titans as No.2 Hawai’i takes on No.7 Loyola-Chicago. The national powerhouses are scheduled to play a match in Honolulu on January 8th, as the Ramblers open their season. Championship Contenders Last year, both teams ended their respective seasons with losses in the NCAA tournament, Hawai’i falling to   UCLA in the semis and Loyola-Chicago to Pepperdine in the quarters. With the tournament expanding its placements from 9 to 12 teams in 2026