HONOLULU-  The No. 5 ranked University of Hawai'i women's water polo team will compete in the annual Barbara Kalbus Invitational hosted by UC Irvine at the Marian Bergeson Aquatics center at Corona del Mar high school beginning on Friday at 1 p.m. HT against No. 16  UC San Diego. 
 
The Rainbow Wahine (8-1) will be a part of a 16-team tournament field featuring 15 nationally ranked Division I opponents and the No. 1 ranked Divisions III team Pomona-Pitzer. UH will be a part of Group D along with UCSD, No. 4 California, and No. 17 UC Davis. UH has finished within the top five at the Barbara Kalbus tournament over the past three years.  
 
The Wahine last faced the Tritons (4-8) at the Big West Championship semifinals in the 2022 season, beating them 14-12 and holding a 28-4 record overall. UCSD comes in after losing three consecutive matches in the Triton Invitational in early February. In contrast, the 'Bows won three of four matches in the same invitational. 
 
Freshman Bia Mantellato Dias comes into the tournament with a hot hand as she was selected as the Big West Player of the week following the Triton Invitational. She scored 11 goals over four matches, including six against Fresno State. Mantellato Dias leads the team in goals with 29, followed by senior Alba Bonamusa Boix with 25 goals and 12 assists. Junior goalie Bridget Layburn has been holding defense with a .508 goal save percentage, totaling 60 saves.
 
UH will play four matches over three days, with a doubleheader on Saturday. All matches will be in a tournament format and will be determined by winners and losers throughout the weekend.