HONOLULU — University of Hawai'i attacker Bernadette Doyle was named the Big West Women's Water Polo Player of the Week on Wednesday, giving the fourth-ranked Rainbow Wahine back-to-back conference honors to open the season.
 
Doyle scored five goals, assisted on five others, and swiped seven steals to help UH go 3-0 in the Rainbow Invitational last weekend at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex. The junior from Auckland, New Zealand scored twice in the first half against Princeton on Jan. 26 and set up two goals in a 10-6 victory in UH's home opener. She contributed a goal to an 18-3 win over Azusa Pacific in the team's first match on Jan. 27. In the tournament finale, she had a hand in five goals in a 9-5 win over No. 5 Fresno State.
 
With Fresno State leading 2-0 in the second quarter, Doyle came up with a steal, drew an exclusion then charged to the net to hammer in UH's first goal of the night. After UH moved ahead in the second half, she set up Bia Mantellato Dias for a goal and fired in another of her own to push the Rainbow Wahine lead to 7-4.  She ended the night with two goals and three assists.
 
Doyle played at UH in 2019 and '20 and returned this season after spending a couple of years back home in New Zealand. The Big West award is the first of her career. UH claimed the season's first Big West Player of the Week award when Mantellato Dias was selected for the honor on Jan. 24.
 
Doyle enters the week with eight goals and a team-high eight assists and 12 steals this season.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (5-0) remained at No. 4 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Women's Varsity poll released on Wednesday. They'll head to La Jolla, Calif., this week to play in the three-day Triton Invitational. UH will face San Diego State (2-1) on Friday at noon Pacific Time (10 a.m. Hawai'i Time) at Coggan Family Aquatic Complex at La Jolla High School. UH will compete in two bracket matches on Saturday and close the tournament on Sunday.