HONOLULU — The University of Hawai’i women’s water polo team, fresh off its third Big West Championship title, is set to compete in the NCAA National Championship. They’ll face off against fourth-seeded California on April 24 in La Jolla, California.
The Rainbow Wahine, with a strong record of 16-5, clinched their spot after dominating the Big West tournament. Their matchup against the Golden Bears (14-7) is scheduled for 11:00 p.m. Pacific Time (8:00 a.m. Hawai’i Time). You can catch the tournament action streaming on ncaa.com until the national championship, which will air on ESPNU.
This marks the team’s 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, a significant milestone as it also represents the first time they’ve qualified in three consecutive years. Under second-year head coach James Robinson, the Wahine have displayed impressive consistency, highlighted by their recent 14-9 victory over Long Beach State to secure the conference title.
Interestingly, this matchup between UH and Cal is becoming a familiar one. They’ve met in the NCAA tournament each of the last three years and four times overall this season. Cal has won all three encounters this year, with notable victories, including a 14-9 win at the Fresno State Polo-palooza and a 10-8 win in March. Last year, UH managed to eliminate Cal in the quarterfinals but then fell to Stanford in the semifinals.
Both teams are coming off competitive seasons. California had ups and downs in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, finishing with a 3-3 record. They placed fourth in the recent MPSF tournament, making them a worthy opponent for UH.
As the tournament begins, it’s exciting to think about the potential matchups. The first game features Wagner against Concordia Irvine, with the winner facing top-seeded Stanford. Either UH or Cal could meet that victor in the semifinals, heightening the stakes.
Water polo fans will be paying close attention, especially to see if UH can turn the tide against a challenging rival like Cal. The outcomes of these early matches will help shape the narrative as the tournament progresses.
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