STANFORD, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i women's water polo team will open action at the 2019 NCAA Tournament with a quarterfinals matchup versus No. 4 Cal on Friday, May 10 at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center. The first sprint is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. PT (10:45 a.m. HT).
Hawai'i, ranked fifth in the CWPA Poll, is competing in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in school history. The Rainbow Wahine also made the field in 2015, 2013, 2009, 2006 and 2005.
UH earned a place in the 2019 NCAA Tournament via an automatic bid after winning the Big West Tournament. The 'Bows defeated third-seeded UC Davis in the semifinals before taking down top-seeded UC Irvine, 7-6, in the finals.
The May 10 meeting will be the fourth between the two sides this season with Hawaiʻi going 1-2 versus the Golden Bears in the first three matchups. UH fell to Cal in a neutral site game in Irvine, Calif. by a 12-10 final score on Feb. 23 and again in Berkeley by a 10-9 margin on March 10. The 'Bows were able to respond with a 6-5 win over the Golden Bears on March 29 in Honolulu.
All-time, the Rainbow Wahine have gone 5-10 in NCAA Tournament games and are 4-1 in their first games at the tournament.
Hawai'i won a number of awards from the Big West this season. Head Coach
Maureen Cole earned Big West Coach of the Year for the third time in her career. Senior
Irene Gonzalez repeated as Big West Player of the Year and was also named First Team All-Big West.
Elyse Lemay-Lavoie earned First Team All-Big West, while
Femke Aan was Second Team.
Emma van Rossum and
Maxine Schaap both earned All-Big West Honorable Mention and a place on the Big West All-Freshman Team.
A win over Cal would advance the Rainbow Wahine to the semifinals on Saturday to face the winner of No. 1 USC and Wagner/UC San Diego. The National Championship game is scheduled for Sunday, May 12. It is a single-elimination tournament.
What: 2019 NCAA Women's Water Polo Tournament
Who: No. 5 Hawai'i (18-5) vs. No. 4 Cal (16-8) - Quarterfinals
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 1:45 p.m. PT (10:45 a.m. HT)
Where: Avery Aquatic Center - Stanford, Calif.
Streaming: NCAA.com/Live
Live Stats: TheFosh.net
#HawaiiWWP
