HONOLULU – After a successful start to the season, the sixth-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team (2-1) gets its first taste of the road, heading to Santa Clara, Calif. on Thursday before turning south to Tempe, Ariz. for the ASU Cross Conference Challenge this weekend. UH faces SCU on Feb. 1 and is slated to face a quartet of top-25 opposition in a two-day weekend event at ASU, Feb. 3-4.
 
Remaining at sixth nationally, despite a strong 2-1 finish as hosts of the Rainbow Invite, the Rainbow Wahine head to the road with an intense offense, averaging 12.33 goals per match and shooting 47 percent.
 
2017 all-Big West first-teamer and All-American Junior Irene Gonzalez paces UH, accounting for 12 points after her first weekend out. Gonzalez has already recorded two hat tricks with eight goals, in addition to four assists and seven steals. Classmate Femke Aan was also steady in the Rainbow Invite with eight goals, two assists and two steals. Sophomore Maartje Keuning also brings some UH firepower, netting six goals with a team-high 75 percent shooting percentage in the first three matches.
 
In the cage, senior returning starter Ymane Hage has 17 saves so far and ranks fourth in the Big West with a 7.27 GAA. Hage has also collected seven steals early this season.
 
The Rainbow Wahine open their week with a single non-conference contest at Santa Clara (1-0), facing the Broncos on Thursday (Feb. 1) with a 1:30 p.m. HT opening sprint at the Sullivan Aquatic Center. UH is 11-0 in the series with the Broncos after coming out on top 16-6 on the road last February.
 
Tournament competition begins on Saturday (Feb. 3) at Arizona State's Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The Rainbow Wahine open with host No. 5 Arizona State (3-0) at 8:00 a.m. HT, followed by a 12:00 p.m. HT matchup with No. 17 (t) UC San Diego (1-3). UH holds a 13-5 advantage in the ASU series, facing the Sun Devils for the first time since 2015. UH is 21-3 in the annual series against UCSD.
 
Sunday's action begins at 7:00 a.m. HT against No. 17 (t) Princeton (0-0) and closes for UH on a rematch with No. 21 Loyola Marymount (3-4) at 11:00 a.m. HT. UH topped the LMU Lions 13-6 in their first meeting this year. UH leads the PU series 5-2, last meeting in 2015.
 
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Who: No. 6 Hawai'i (2-1) vs. Santa Clara (1-0)
When: 1:30 p.m. HT
Sullivan Aquatic Center (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Live Stats
 

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Saturday, February 3, 2018
ASU Cross Conference Challenge
Mona Plummer Aquatic Center (Tempe, Ariz.)
Who: No. 6 Hawai'i (2-1) vs. No 5 Arizona State (3-0)
When: 8:00 a.m. HT
Live Stats
Arizona State Live Stream

Who: No. 6 Hawai'i (2-1) vs. No 17 UC San Diego (1-3)
When: 12:00 p.m. HT
Live Stats
 

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Sunday, February 4, 2018
ASU Cross Conference Challenge
Mona Plummer Aquatic Center (Tempe, Ariz.)
Who: No. 6 Hawai'i (2-1) vs. No 17 Princeton (0-0)
When: 7:00 a.m. HT
Live Stats

Who: No. 6 Hawai'i (2-1) vs. No. 21 Loyola Marymount (3-4)
When: 11:00 a.m. HT
Live Stats