The University of Hawai’i women’s water polo team secured a place in the Big West Championship final after defeating UC Irvine 8-7 in the semifinal match on April 11 at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center in Long Beach, California.
This victory keeps Hawai’i’s hopes alive for a third consecutive conference title. The Rainbow Wahine will face Long Beach State in the championship game, marking their eighth straight appearance and eleventh overall in the Big West final.
Freshman Ariadna Temprano Xambó led Hawai’i with four goals, achieving her seventh hat trick of the season. Ema Vernoux contributed two goals, including one late in the third quarter that proved decisive. Goalkeeper Daisy Logtens made 12 saves and posted her ninth double-digit save performance this year, helping preserve Hawai’i’s lead as UC Irvine closed within one goal late in regulation. Seniors Camille Radosavljevic and Roni Perlman combined for a key defensive play with just seconds remaining to secure the win.
Perlman also provided four assists during the match and moved into tenth place on Hawai’i’s all-time career assists list with 87. The Rainbow Wahine finished with an eight-for-27 shooting record while holding UC Irvine to seven-for-33. Both teams struggled on power plays, each converting two out of eight opportunities.
Hawai’i took an early lead and maintained it throughout most of the match despite several comeback attempts by UC Irvine. Key moments included timely steals by Gabrielle Doyle and strong defensive efforts from Logtens that kept UH ahead entering each quarter.
Long Beach State advanced to meet Hawai’i after defeating UC Davis 12-10 in their semifinal matchup. The upcoming final will be broadcast live on ESPN+ at 11:00 a.m. Hawai’i Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time). This marks another chapter in a growing rivalry between UH and Long Beach State, who have met multiple times for recent titles.
