LONG BEACH, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's water polo team's balance and depth defined its third consecutive Big West Championship title.
Seven Rainbow Wahine players contributed to the scoring and goalkeeper
Daisy Logtens made nine saves to lead sixth-ranked and top-seeded Hawaii to a 14-9 win over Long Beach State in the tournament final on Sunday at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Complex in Long Beach, Calif.
Agatha Weston led the 'Bows with four goals on her way to earning Big West Championship Most Valuable Player honors and
Gabrielle Doyle,
Alia Burlock,
Ema Vernoux and Ariadna Temprano Xambó each paired goals for the 'Bows. Senior
Roni Perlman tied her career high with five assists to help the 'Bows capture the program's seventh conference tournament crown.
UH also claimed the Big West's automatic berth to the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship set for April 24-26 in La Jolla, Calif. UH's run of three consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament will be the longest in program history. The bracket will be revealed in the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 2 p.m. Hawai'i Time on NCAA.com.
UH completed an undefeated run through the Big West regular-season schedule and conference championship for the third straight year and extended the program's winning streak in Big West competition to 29 consecutive victories dating back to 2024. The 'Bows outlasted the Beach in each of the last three Big West finals and never trailed over their three wins in this weekend's tournament.
UH posted a .519 shooting percentage in the win while holding tournament host Long Beach State to a .290 performance.
Asimina Klapsianou and fellow center
Raha Peiravani each drew three exclusions and the 'Bows scored on four of seven powerplay opportunities and converted on all three of their penalty shots.
Six UH players scored in the first half of Sunday's final as the Rainbow Wahine built a 7-4 lead through the first 16 minutes.
Klapsianou drew a penalty and Weston scored the opening goal of the match at the 4:25 mark of the first quarter.
Camille Radosavljevic added goal from the right side before LBSU converted a penalty shot and scored on another powerplay to tie it up with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
Doyle contributed to three of UH's five goals of the second quarter. The sophomore drew a penalty that Vernoux converted to give UH the lead. Doyle then assisted on a goal by Logan and later scored from the top to give UH a 6-3 lead. After a Long Beach State goal, Temprano Xambó, who picked up two exclusions in the first quarter, reentered for UH's final possession of the half and lobbed a shot into the goal to send UH into halftime with a 7-4 lead.
Weston completed her hat trick early in the third quarter and Vernoux's second goal made it 9-6. The teams continued to trade goals with UH answering each Long Beach push. UH led 10-7 going into the final period and Burlock and Doyle scored in the first minute to stretch the margin to five. Temprano Xambó made it a 13-7 lead with 4:54 left, Weston added her final goal at the 2:03 mark and the 'Bows closed out their third win over the Beach this season to trigger another championship celebration.
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