SKILLMAN, N.J.—The University of Hawai`i women's tennis team opens its 2013 season ranked No. 54 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason poll released on Thursday. Last season, the Rainbow Wahine posted a record-setting year as they upset No. 51 Fresno State to win their first-ever Western Athletic Conference title and advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.
 
This season, the Rainbow Wahine will face a schedule featuring six ranked teams—including No. 5 Stanford, No. 39 Long Beach State, No. 47 Washington, No. 48 San Diego, No. 56 Sacramento State, and No. 68 UC Irvine. Last season, the 'Bows hosted 15 dual matches and one regular season tournament. This year UH will host just seven dual matches and be on the road for nine matches.
 
This season, the Rainbow Wahine return to the Big West Conference after spending the last 16 years as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Unlike the WAC, UH will face all other nine Big West teams in the regular season with three matches at home and six played in California.
 
Hawai`i opens its season on Jan. 9-10 with the Rainbow Wahine Spring Invitational at the UH Tennis Complex.