SAN DIEGO - Trailing 5-2 at one point, the University of Hawai'i women's water polo team won it's second consecutive Big West Championship. For the fifth time this season, the No. 1 seed Rainbow Wahine (11-1, 3-1 BW) defeated No. 3 seed UC Irvine 9-8 in a nail baiter title match that took all 32 minutes to decide.

Sophomore Emma van Rossum was named the 2021 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship Most Valuable Player. Van Rossum totaled three goals and one assist through the entire tournament. Most importantly, her consistency and leadership in and out of the pool led the team to a victorious championship run.

A tough start saw the 'Bows falling behind after the first two frames 4-2, van Rossum and freshman Lucia Gomez de la Puente continued to keep the team within reach by each tallying one goal a piece.

In the third period, UH outscored UCI 5-4, including redshirt sophomore Libby Gault and Gomez de la Puente each adding a pair of goals. 

The Rainbow Wahine held the Anteaters scoreless in the final quarter. Sophomore Olivia Kistler tied the game two minutes into the quarter before redshirt junior Lalelei Mata'afa netted with three minutes remaining in the game to gain the advantage and secure the win.

Gomez de le Puente shot 3-4 and recorded one assist. Gault recorded two assists and Kistler with one as both shot 2-4. Junior Carmen Baringo stepped up defensively with two steals while junior Molly DiLalla captured crucial five saves.

The Rainbow Wahine earned their second consecutive and fourth Big West Championship title in program history. The last time the 'Bows were the top seed was in 2018 when they finished runner up to UCI (8-7) in a triple-overtime sudden death in Irvine. In 2019, second-seeded Hawai'i captured its third Big West Championship in school history after toppling top-seeded UCI 7-6 in Long Beach, California.

On May 14 through 16, the 'Bows will head to Los Angeles, Calif., and continue the journey to an NCAA title.