HONOLULU — In a tightly contested Senior Night battle that came down to the final courts, the University of Hawaiʻi women's tennis team (5-8, 2-4 Big West) fell just short in a 4-3 decision against UC Davis on Saturday at the UH Tennis Complex.

With the traditional format reversed, the teams opened the day with singles play. UC Davis jumped to a 2-0 lead behind straight-set wins from Polina Marakihtaneva and Mika Ikemori at the top of the lineup.

However, Hawaiʻi fought back. Allaire Berl outlasted Alleena Hu in two grueling tiebreak sets, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), and Hannah Galindo added a second point for the Rainbow Wahine with a three-set win on Court 3. The Aggies kept pace on Court 6, where Penelope Wong edged senior Isabella Pampulov in a three-set thriller. Sophie Rachor displayed grit at the No. 4 spot, rallying from a set down to defeat Maya Youssef 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to leave the overall match tied at 3-3 heading into doubles.

With the outcome resting on the doubles results, the energy shifted to the pair competitions. The senior duo of Berl and Pampulov gave Hawaiʻi an early advantage with a dominant 6-1 win at the No. 3 position.

But UC Davis answered back. Marakihtaneva and Ikemori took the No. 1 spot 6-4, leaving the dual match to be decided on Court 2. In a back-and-forth battle, the Aggie duo of Hu and Kaia Wolfe eventually broke through for a 7-5 win over Galindo and Makeilah Nepomuceno, clinching the 4-3 victory for UC Davis.

The Rainbow Wahine honored three seniors, Sophie Rachor, Allaire Berl, and Isabella Pampulov after the match.

Hawaiʻi will look to bounce back quickly as they continue Big West play at home. The Rainbow Wahine face UC Riverside on Monday, April 13, at the UH Tennis Complex with first serve scheduled for 10 a.m.

Hawai'i 3, UC Davis 4
Apr. 11, 2026 at Honolulu, O'ahu
(UH Tennis Complex)

Singles Competition
1. Polina Marakihtaneva (UCD) def. Grete Gull (UHW) 6-0, 6-4
2. Mika Ikemori (UCD) def. Makeilah Nepomuceno (UHW) 6-4, 6-2
3. Hannah Galindo (UHW) def. Vivian Gallaway (UCD) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
4. Sophie Rachor (UHW) def. Maya Youssef (UCD) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Allaire Berl (UHW) def. Alleena Hu (UCD) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5)
6. Penelope Wong (UCD) def. Isabella Pampulov (UHW) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

Doubles Competition
1. Polina Marakihtaneva/Mika Ikemori (UCD) def. Grete Gull/Sophie Rachor (UHW) 6-4
2. Alleena Hu/Kaia Wolfe (UCD) def. Hannah Galindo/Makeilah Nepomuceno (UHW) 7-5
3. Allaire Berl/Isabella Pampulov (UHW) def. Maya Youssef/Isabella Bringas (UCD) 6-1

Match Notes
UC Davis: 12-10, 5-4 Big West
Hawai'i: 5-8, 2-4 Big West
Order of finish: Singles (1,2,5,6,3,4); Doubles (3,1,2)