Hawaii water polo: Rainbow Wahine draw Cal in NCAA tournament

A cheer went up and the applause echoed in the water polo clubhouse at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Hawaii learned Monday afternoon that it will face fourth-seeded California in the quarterfinals of the 10-team NCAA tournament on May 10 at Stanford. And that it was the Golden Bears, a team that fifth-ranked UH defeated during the regular season, was met with enthusiasm.

Big West champion #HawaiiWWP reacts to the reveal that it will play No. 4 seed California (a team it went 1-2 against in the regular season) in the NCAA tournament first round on May 10 at Stanford. pic.twitter.com/3JrYASj60e

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— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) April 30, 2019

UH (18-5) captured its first Big West championship in four years over the weekend, a 7-6 edging of UC Irvine at Long Beach State.

It is the sixth all-time NCAA appearance for the UH water polo program, and third under coach Maureen Cole. UH last reached the semifinals in 2013, when it defeated UC San Diego in the quarters.

Against Cal (16-8), a team that hovered in the top five nationally like UH for most of the season, the Rainbow Wahine went 1-2. The Bears won 12-10 in a neutral-pool matchup on Feb. 23, and prevailed again, 10-9, in a matchup at Berkeley on March 10.

But when the Bears traveled to play at the DKAC, the Wahine got past them, 6-5, on March 29. It was a win that helped the Wahine come together late in the season.

Here’s some of what Cole and seniors Femke Aan and Irene Gonzalez had to say about the NCAA matchup and the past weekend.

#HawaiiWWP coach Maureen Cole on her program's first NCAA tournament appearance (May 10 vs. Cal at Stanford) since 2015. It will be the first NCAA experience for all her players. pic.twitter.com/SkJTty24S6

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) April 30, 2019

Here's #HawaiiWWP senior Femke Aan on facing Cal for the fourth time this season. UH went 1-2 against the Bears in the regular season (1-0 at home, 0-2 on the mainland). pic.twitter.com/nOaRPX1rGg

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) April 30, 2019

Here's #HawaiiWWP senior Irene Gonzalez, the Big West tournament most valuable player, on what her team did over the weekend to win the championship. pic.twitter.com/G30c6zHoRt

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) April 30, 2019

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Here’s the full bracket:

Full Bracket #GoBows pic.twitter.com/n4eKg8ryL3

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— Wahine Water Polo (@WahineWP) April 30, 2019