HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's tennis team (5-5, 2-1 Big West) battled hard but fell just short in a 4-3 decision against UC Irvine on Saturday afternoon at the UH Tennis Complex. With the result, UH moves to 2-1 in conference play as the Big West season continues to heat up. 

The Rainbow Wahine came out strong in doubles, securing the opening point with determined play. The UH duo of Makeilah Nepomuceno and Hannah Galindo set the tone with a solid 6-4 win over Yen Nhi Huynh and Maily Huynh. After UCI evened things up on Court No. 3, the doubles point came down to a decisive battle on Court No. 1. Grete Gull and Sophie Rachor delivered under pressure, edging past UCI's Carolyna Fowler and Amanda Perez in a tightly contested 7–5 match to give UH the early advantage.

In singles, the match remained tightly contested as both teams traded points across the courts. UH's Nepomuceno and Galindo each earned straight-set victories for UH, with Nepomuceno defeating Perez, 6-4, 6-2, and Galindo dominating Haily Huynh, 6-0, 6-1. The Rainbow Wahine took a 3-1 lead after both of their wins. UCI responded though with wins on Courts No. 1, 5, and 6, including a three-set battle where Y. Huynh topped Gull, 6-2, 1-6, 6-0. The Anteaters' would then clinch the match with a narrow straight-set victory by Carolyna Fowler over Rachor, 7-5, 7-6 (4).

The Rainbow Wahine hit the road next week for a pair of Big West matchups against Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara. UH opens the trip against Cal Poly at 9 A.M. HT in San Luis Obispo, California.



Hawaii 3 - UC Irvine 4
Friday, Mar. 27, 2026 at Honolulu, O'ahu
(UH Tennis Complex)

Doubles Competition
1. Gull/Rachor (UH) def. Fowler/Perez (UCI), 7-5
2. Galindo/Nepomuceno (UH) def. Huynh/Huynh, 6-4
3. Pitchford/Brady (UCI) def. Berl/Pampulov (UH), 6-4

Singles Competition
1. Yen Nhi Huynh (UCI) def. Grete Gull (UH), 6-2, 1-6, 6-0
2. Makeilah Nepomuceno (UH) def. Amanda Perez (UCI), 6-4, 6-2
3. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) def. Sophie Rachor (UH), 7-5, 7-6 (4)
4. Hannah Galindo (UH) def. Haily Huynh (UCI), 6-0, 6-1
5. Bella Pitchford (UCI) def. Allaire Berl (UH), 7-5, 6-4
6. Maily Huynh (UCI) def. Isabella Pampulov (UH), 6-2, 6-2

Match Notes
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,6,1,2,5,3)