HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i women's water polo team is set to begin their 2007 season this week as the Rainbow Wahine host the Alumnae noon Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex.

Head coach Michel Roy, the two-time Mountain Pacific Coach of the Year, begins his fifth season overseeing the nationally ranked program.

Last year, the team posted one of the biggest upsets in the program's history as they knocked off USC in the semi-finals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, advancing to the finals of the MPSF tournament where they lost to eventual champion, UCLA.

For the past two years, the Rainbow Wahine placed fourth at the NCAA Championships.

This year's squad returns All-Americans Meike De Nooy, goalie, and Kelly Mason, utility. Iefke Van Belkum, a two-time All-American and the MPSF's player of the year in 2006, will sit out this season playing for her home country The Netherlands preparing for the 2008 Olympics.

The nucleus of the team centers around returning seniors Anna Sieprath, Amy Logan, Kristy Bagnall, Brittany Dames and Emily Cox.

The Rainbow Wahine officially open the regular season Feb. 1 at San Jose State. The home opener for UH is slated for Feb. 16 when they host San Diego State.

-UH-