HONOLULU — Coming off a historic weekend on the road, the fourth-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team opens its home schedule by hosting the Rainbow Invitational on Jan. 26 and 27 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex. UH will be joined by Azusa Pacific, No. 5 Fresno State and No. 9 Princeton in the two-day event.
UH faces Princeton on Friday Jan. 26 at 6:00 p.m. The 'Bows take on Azusa Pacific at noon on Jan. 27 and return to the pool for the tournament finale against Fresno State at 6 p.m.
| RAINBOW INVITATIONAL |
| Tournament schedule |
Friday, Jan. 26
Fresno State (4-0) vs. Azusa Pacific (2-1), 4:30 p.m.
Hawai'i (2-0) vs. Princeton (0-0), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27
Princeton vs. Fresno State, 10:30 a.m.
Hawai'i vs. Azusa Pacific, 12 p.m.
Princeton vs. Azusa Pacific, 4:30 p.m.
Hawai'i vs. Fresno State, 6 p.m.
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| Location |
Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex |
| Promotions |
Fans are encouraged to wear green to Friday's UH home opener vs. Princeton and to wear white to Saturday's tournament finale against Fresno State.
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| DKAC Information |
• The University of Hawai'i has adopted a Clear Bag Policy at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
• Umbrellas and outside food and drink are allowed in the facility.
• Spectators can enter the DKAC through the second floor entrance and cross the Ewa catwalk to the Mauka Bleachers.
• No spectators will be allowed on the pool deck.
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HEAD COACH MAUREEN COLEAt Hawai'i: 205-92 (13th year)
OPENING SPRINT
- UH moved up a spot to No. 4 in the Collegate Water Polo Association Women's Varsity Top 25 after going 2-0 in the Fresno State Polo-Palooza on Jan. 20.
- UH rallied past No. 13 Michigan 14-11 in overtime in its season opener then defeated No. 1 Stanford for the first time in 37 matchups with the Cardinal, 9-7 also in overtime.
- UH sophomore Bia Mantellato Dias was named the Big West Player of the Week after scoring six goals in the Polo-Palooza. She earned the award for the fourth time in her UH career.
- Senior Alba Bonamusa Boix leads the team in goals with seven. She scored three against Michigan and four against Stanford to help the 'Bows knock off the two-time defending national champions.
- Freshman goalie Daisy Logtens made her UH debut against Michigan, recording 15 saves (.577 SV%) and three steals.
- Senior Emma Gurasich also made her UH debut recording six saves (.462 SV%) and a steal in the upset over No. 1 Stanford.
TOURNAMENT NOTES
- UH is 7-2 all-time against Princeton. The 'Bows have won the last two matchups against the Tigers and six of the last seven.
- UH is 3-0 all-time against Azusa Pacific. The Rainbow Wahine last met the Cougars in 2020 in Azusa, Calif., which resulted in a 20-3 UH victory.
- UH is 4-0 all-time against Fresno State. The 'Bows last played the Bulldogs in the 2023 Triton Invitational, which resulted in an 11-8 UH victory.
- Fresno State went 4-0 in its Polo-Palooza last weekend with wins over Michigan, UC Davis, Stanford and San Jose State to open Natalie Benson's seventh year as head coach.
- Azusa Pacific opened head coach Priscilla Gomez's second year with a win over Cal State Monterey Bay, a loss to UC Santa Barbara and a victory over Ottawa.
- Princeton advanced to the Final Four of last year's National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship with an upset of third-seeded Cal. The Tigers open Derek Ellinson's fifth season as head coach this weekend.
