Rainbow Wahine Beach Volleyball Faces Tough Test in California
The University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine beach volleyball team (6-5) heads to Manhattan Beach, California, for the East Meets West Invitational, a challenging tournament featuring three nationally ranked opponents: No. 5 Texas, No. 8 Arizona State, and No. 12 LSU, as well as Florida International.
Recent Success Fuels Road Trip
UH comes into the tournament riding high after capturing the Heineken Queen’s Cup last weekend. The team started the season with losses to four top-10 teams but rebounded with a 5-1 record at the Queen’s Cup, including an upset victory over preseason top-ranked UCLA. This road trip marks their first away games of the season.
Match Schedule & Opponent History
The BeachBows will face a busy schedule:
- Friday, March 13: vs. No. 5 Texas (8:30 a.m. HT) & vs. Florida International (12:30 p.m. HT)
- Saturday, March 14: vs. No. 12 LSU (7:30 a.m. HT) & vs. No. 8 Arizona State (11:30 a.m. HT)
Hawai’i has a history with all four opponents. They’ve met Texas twice in the last month, with Texas winning the most recent match. UH leads the series against Florida International 8-1, and holds a 5-4 record against LSU. Against Arizona State, UH has won eight of nine previous meetings.
Dominating Ranked and Unranked Opponents
Historically, the Rainbow Wahine have a strong record against both ranked and unranked teams. They are 108-117 against ranked squads and an impressive 164-6 against unranked opponents. The team is 51-50 against ranked teams at neutral sites.
Key Pairings Lead the Way
The pairings of Julia Lawrenz and Izadora Stedile, and Sophie Buschmann and Julia Thelle, have been consistent performers for UH, appearing together in all 11 matches this season. Lawrenz and Stedile were undefeated (6-0) at the Heineken Queen’s Cup and have been a mainstay at the top of the order in recent matches.
‘Bow Bits: Three-Set Match Success
The BeachBows have shown resilience in close matches, boasting a 12-10 record in three-set contests this season. The team has utilized 14 different lineup combinations throughout the first two tournaments.
FAQ
Q: Where is the East Meets West Invitational being held?
A: Manhattan Beach, California.
Q: How many ranked teams will UH face at the tournament?
A: Three – No. 5 Texas, No. 8 Arizona State, and No. 12 LSU.
Q: What is UH’s overall record against LSU?
A: UH is 5-4 against LSU.
Q: Who are the consistent pairings for the Rainbow Wahine?
A: Julia Lawrenz and Izadora Stedile, and Sophie Buschmann and Julia Thelle.
Did you realize? UH has a remarkable 97.4% win rate against unranked opponents.
Stay updated on the Rainbow Wahine’s progress throughout the East Meets West Invitational by following HawaiiAthletics.com for live scores, and updates.
