SANTA BARBARA – After its recent fifth place finish at the Barbara Kalbus Tournament, the No. 5 University of Hawai'i women's water polo team returns to the continent this week to face No. 10 UC Santa Barbara, Friday, March 10 at 12:00 p.m. HT and No. 24 CSUN, Sunday, March 12 at 11:00 a.m. PT to begin Big West play.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (11-2) last faced the Gauchos in the final match at the Barbara Kalbus Tournament, winning 10-4. Freshman Bia Mantellato Dias and senior Emma van Rossum made key offensive contributions as UH scored eight consecutive goals from the second period.
 
After the match-up against UCSB, the Rainbow Wahine will travel to Northridge to meet the Matadors for the first time this season. The teams last played a year ago, when UH won 15-5. Hawai'i currently holds a 19-1 all-time series lead over CSUN and have won the last 10 meetings dating back to 2014.
 
The defending Big West regular season champions have won their last nine conference matches since the 2021 season. UH finished with a perfect 6-0 league mark last season.
 
Following this week's matches, the Rainbow Wahine return to Honolulu for a four-match homestand beginning with No. 2 USC, Friday, March 17 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.