The University of Hawai'i women's tennis team will begin the 2021 season with three matches over six days in southern California beginning with a match against No. 16 USC Thursday, Feb. 18 in Los Angeles, Calif.
 
The Rainbow Wahine continue the trip with matches against Big West rival UC Irvine, Friday, Feb. 19 and San Diego, Tuesday, Feb. 22. UH was supposed to play at San Diego State but that match has been postponed.
 
Last spring, Hawai'i played all three teams to open the dual match season, defeating UCI (6-1) and falling to San Diego (4-3) and USC (4-1). The Trojans were ranked No. 22 at the time and UH's lone point occurred at the No. 5 court where Nikola Dolakova posted a straight set win. Two other courts went unfinished as those matches involving Petra Melounova and Michelle Pits were in the third set.
 
UH returns its entire lineup from a year ago headlined by Melounova, who went 4-3 at the No. 1 position. The senior is the most decorated player in program history, having competed in three NCAA Championships and is a three-time Big West Player of the Year.
 
Sophomore Satsuki Takamura played the top three spots last season after transferring from Pepperdine, with a 4-0 mark at No. 2. Texas transfer Bojana Markovic sported a 4-2 record at the No. 3 court and entered last spring with a Top 100 ranking. Senior Michelle Pits, senior Nikola Dolakova, freshman Madison Kim and freshman Lea Romain all saw action last season. 
 
Head coach Jun Hernandez enters his 16^th season at the helm of the Rainbow Wahine and ranks second all-time in wins and tenure. He has led UH to a top two finish in Big West play the last four full seasons.