HONOLULU – Coming off a two-game split to open the season at #10 UC San Diego, the University of Hawaii water polo team opens its home slate with three games over as many days in Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Center against #5 UC Irvine March 25-27. The first game of the series is the only Big West-counting contest.

The #7 Rainbow Wahine are led offensively by freshman Lucia Gomez de la Puenta's five goals and her hat trick in the second game of the opening weekend in San Diego. Redshirt junior Lalelei Mata'afa and freshman Lara Luka each have four goals entering the three-game set with the Anteaters. 

Mata'afa is coming off a year in which she is the team's leading returning goal scorer after scoring 28 goals in 13 games last year.

In goal, junior Molly DiLalla has taken back the starting spot after starting two games in 2020. DiLalla made 13 saves against UC San Diego over the two games with seven in the Big West game.

The Anteaters are off to a 9-3 start with two wins over California Baptist, two wins over UC San Diego, both non-conference games, a Big West loss to UC Davis and a non-conference win against the Aggies and a series sweep of Long Beach State. UCI has also played USC, UCLA and San Diego State.

The first game of the series with UCI will be the only game of the set broadcast on Spectrum Sports. All three games can be followed on TheFosh.net for live scoring and via @wahinewp Twitter for live updates and scoring.