LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 20th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team (7-13) returns to action this week when it takes on No. 5 Hawaii (9-6) on Thursday, March 25 at Canyonview Pool. First sprint is slated for 6:00 p.m. UCSD will then head to the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunner Invitational II on March 27-28 on the CSUB campus. Hawaii has won 12 of the 14 all-time meetings with UCSD, the last match-up between the two schools was in April of 2008, a 7-5 Rainbow Wahine win. The Tritons have won five of their last six games, including three wins at the Aztec Invitational on March 13-14. UCSD is 3-2 this season at Canyonview Pool.
Hawaii has defeated several ranked teams this season, including an overtime 9-8 win over UCLA on March 6. Hawaii also has wins over Arizona State, San Jose State and UC Irvine.
Hawaii is led by Loenie Van Der Molen and Monika Eggens with 28 goals apiece. Carmen Eggens is third on the team with 25 goals. Dagmar Genee has a team-high 28 steals while Saara Majuri leads Hawaii with 11 assists.
In goal, Serena Bredin has 95 saves and has allowed 103 goals this season.
At the CSUB Roadrunner Invitational II, UCSD will take on four opponents in No. 18 Cal State Bakersfield, No. 15 UC Davis, Sonoma State and Cal State San Bernardino.
UCSD is led by
Kirsten Bates with 34 goals while
Stephanie Heinrich has scored 30 goals.
Audra Bloom has scored 28 times and
Hanalei Crowell has added 19 goals. Crowell is the team leader in assists with 25 and Bloom leads the Tritons with 37 steals.
Markayla Quane leads the Tritons with 189 saves in 20 games.
