FRESNO, Calif. — The fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team split a doubleheader on the opening day of the 2025 season on Saturday in the Fresno State Polopalooza in Fresno, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine rolled to a 15-6 win over No. 18 San Jose State in the first game of Saturday's play at the Fresno State Aquatics Center. UH then fell to No. 2 Stanford 12-7 in the teams' final matchup of the afternoon.
Hawai'i 15, San Jose State 6
Bernadette Doyle tied her career high with four goals, Jordan Wedderburn had a hat trick by the end of the first quarter and freshman Ema Vernoux added three goals in her collegiate debut and the Rainbow Wahine pulled away from the Spartans. In all, eight UH players contributed to the scoring in a dominant opening match.
Daisy Logtens made six saves and UH's defense held San Jose State to a 3-for-11 showing on power play opportunities, with two goals coming in the final moments of the match.
The 'Bows did not waste any time getting the season started as Doyle converted a goal just 19 seconds into the game on UH's first shot of the season.
After SJSU scored a tying goal, Vernoux fired in her first goal from the outside. Wedderburn scored from in front of the goal and Tara Logan found the net to give UH a 4-2 lead. The 'Bows continued to look inside to Wedderburn and the senior converted twice in a span of 26 seconds to give UH a 6-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The scoring slowed a bit in the second before the Spartans found the back of the net, but Rainbow Wahine responded with back-to-back goals. Vernoux connected during a power play opportunity followed by a Doyle goal 30 seconds later. SJSU tallied one more goal with 56 seconds remaining in the half. With the second quarter coming to a close, Stevilyn Griffin found an opening on a fast-break opportunity and netted a goal with just two seconds left giving the 'Bows a 9-4 lead going into halftime.
UH dominated the third quarter, out-scoring SJSU 3-0 to expand on the lead. Doyle earned a hat-trick after finding the corner of the net at the 6:59 mark. Vernoux capitalized on a penalty shot by delivering a strike to the back of the net. The Doyle-Vernoux duo continued to take command in the third as Vernoux found Doyle across the pool and Doyle drained the shot tying her career high with four goals in the contest.
Freshman Silvanne Slot netted her first collegiate goal to begin the fourth quarter. The teams traded scores, each finding the goal twice on power plays. UH's final two goals were delivered by Esmee Roijen and Raha Peiravani to secure the victory over the Spartans.
Stanford 12, Hawai'i 7
Six Rainbow Wahine found the back of the net including Morgan Rios, who netted a team high two goals in the contest. But the second-ranked Cardinal pulled away led by U.S. Olympian Ryann Neushul's six goals. Doyle led the way defensively tallying four of UH's 10 steals in the match.
Doyle opened up scoring once again, finding the back of the net at the 5:09 mark of the first. Stanford answered back by scoring two goals of their own to close out the quarter.
The Cardinal opened the second period with three consecutive goals before Griffin powered through the defense and scored to make the score 5-2 in favor of the Cardinal. Stanford scored two more times to extend their lead to 7-2 at halftime.
Vernoux and Roijen both found the net from the top of the wing in the third quarter, but the Cardinal tallied three more goals of their own.
Stanford began the fourth netting two goals and the Rainbow Wahine scored three straight goals to close out the match. Rios tallied back-to-back goals, followed by a last-second goal by Roni Perlman as time expired.
The Rainbow Wahine will compete in an exhibition match on Sunday against fourth-ranked Cal in the final day of the Fresno State Polopalooza. They'll return home to take on Loyola Marymount on Jan. 24 on the opening night of the Rainbow Invitational at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
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