HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The sixth-ranked University of Hawaii women\u2019s water polo team will begin its Big West Tournament title defense Friday, seeking to extend its recent run of conference dominance.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Hawaii also finished unbeaten in Big West play for the third straight season.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery team is going to give us their best game at this point, whether we\u2019ve seen them once or twice or three times, and just not be surprised by it,\u201d head coach James Robinson said, noting that the team\u2019s focus is \u201cjust being ready and solid in our game plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Wahine are in Long Beach, California, for the Big West Tournament. <\/p>\n
Robinson said familiarity can make postseason matchups tougher.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnytime you play a team more than once, it becomes harder,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are certain teams, like Irvine, if we see them, it\u2019ll be our fourth time playing them this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is Robinson\u2019s second season at the helm. He took over for Maureen Cole, the program\u2019s longest-tenured and most successful head coach.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Last season, Hawaii advanced to the NCAA semifinals before falling to Stanford.<\/p>\n
Goalie Daisy Logtens said the team is keeping its focus on the ultimate goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously getting those honors last year was great, but it\u2019s not really something that\u2019s on my mind,\u201d she said. \u201cI think for now it\u2019s how is the team going to be, and how our team performance is gonna be. Individual honors are great obviously, but that\u2019s not what we\u2019re thinking about.\u201d<\/p>\n
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