BUDAPEST, Hungary – A total of four current and former University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine competed at the 2014 European Championships held July 16-26 in Budapest, Hungary

Claire Nixon, who completed a solid freshman campaign for the Rainbow Wahine in 2014, suited up for her native Great Britain, helping her home country to an eighth place finish in the tournament. 

Nixon has competed in no less than a half dozen international events after breaking into the British senior women's team as a 17-year old in September 2010. She became the first British national to compete collegiately in the United States after committing to UH. Last year she appeared in all 29 matches for the  'Bows and put together a productive freshman campaign with 24 goals and 20 assists, while finishing second on the team with 39 steals.

Meanwhile a trio of UH alumnae helped spur the Netherlands to a run to the tournament finals. Former Rainbow Wahine Leonie van der Molen and sisters  Dagmar and Amarens Genee were instrumental in guiding the Netherlands to their first finals appearance in the European Championships since 1999. Amarens Genee scored a goal in regulation while Dagmar tallied two goals in the penalty shootout—including the game-winner—in  a wild 12-11 come-from-behind win over Italy in the semifinals.

The Netherlands were eventually awarded the silver medal after falling to defending world champions Spain in the final. UH junior All-American Paula Chillida Esforzado served as an alternate on the Spanish team.