HONOLULU – After playing its first 16 matches on the road, the No. 12 University of Hawaii women's water polo team plays its first home contests this weekend when it hosts a trio of matches at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

UH (11-5) will host No. 11 Long Beach State on Friday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. in its Big West opener, before hosting No. 14 Indiana (12:00 p.m.)  and top-ranked USC  (6:00 p.m.) on Saturday, March 22. Admission to all home matches is free.  

The Rainbow Wahine begin defense of its 2013 Big West title when it takes on the 49ers on Friday. In its debut season in the Big West last year, UH finished 6-1 in the regular-season to earn a share of the  title, then went a perfect 3-0 to claim the tournament title as well. UH defeated LBSU twice last year—once in the regular-season and again in the Big West Tournament semifinals.

UH meanwhile, looks for redemption against both Indiana and USC. Indiana upset UH in the Aztec Invitational last year, while the Trojans defeated UH twice. The match versus USC will be a re-match of last year's NCAA Championship semifinals won by the Trojans, 16-9. USC went on to win the national title and is currently ranked No. 1 with a perfect 15-0 mark.

The Rainbow Wahine will return to the water after a nearly two-week layoff. UH went a perfect 4-0 in the Claremont Convergence, March 7-8, in California, before falling to No. 11 Loyola Marymount on March 9. Senior utility Danielle Lewis leads the Rainbow Wahine with 36 goals, while sophomore Paula Chillida Esforzado has netted 31.

This Week's Schedule
March 21
Hawai`i vs. Long Beach State, 6:00 p.m.
USC vs. Indiana, 7:30 p.m.
               
March 22
Hawai`i vs. Indiana, 12:00 p.m.
USC vs. Long Beach State, 1:30 p.m.       
Hawai`i vs. USC, 6:00 p.m.