HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The sixth-ranked University of Hawaii women’s water polo team will begin its Big West Tournament title defense Friday, seeking to extend its recent run of conference dominance.
The Rainbow Wahine are regular-season conference champions for the third consecutive year, a feat capped by a commanding 20-2 Senior Night win over Cal State Fullerton.
Hawaii also finished unbeaten in Big West play for the third straight season.
“Every team is going to give us their best game at this point, whether we’ve seen them once or twice or three times, and just not be surprised by it,” head coach James Robinson said, noting that the team’s focus is “just being ready and solid in our game plan.”
The Wahine are in Long Beach, California, for the Big West Tournament.
Robinson said familiarity can make postseason matchups tougher.
“Anytime you play a team more than once, it becomes harder,” he said. “There are certain teams, like Irvine, if we see them, it’ll be our fourth time playing them this year.”
This is Robinson’s second season at the helm. He took over for Maureen Cole, the program’s longest-tenured and most successful head coach.
The tournament opener could serve as the first step in another extended postseason run. Hawaii enters as the No. 1 seed and opens against UC Santa Barbara.
Last season, Hawaii advanced to the NCAA semifinals before falling to Stanford.
Goalie Daisy Logtens said the team is keeping its focus on the ultimate goal.
“Obviously getting those honors last year was great, but it’s not really something that’s on my mind,” she said. “I think for now it’s how is the team going to be, and how our team performance is gonna be. Individual honors are great obviously, but that’s not what we’re thinking about.”
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