The University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ team will enter its final season in the Big West as the favorite in the conference’s preseason poll and with two Rainbow Wahine returnees voted to the preseason all-conference team.
Coming off a second straight Big West regular-season title, the Rainbow Wahine topped the Big West preseason coaches¡¯ poll. UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ received 91 points in the poll to place one point ahead of UC Irvine, with the ¡®Bows and Anteaters both receiving four first-place votes.
Rainbow Wahine forward Imani Perez and center Ritorya Tamilo were voted to the seven-member All-Big West preseason coaches’ team.
Perez earned All-Big West second team and All-Defensive Team honors each of the last two years, and was an All-Freshman team selection in 2023. Tamilo was named the Big West Freshman of the Year last season while also earning a spot on the conference’s All-Freshman Team. She set the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ freshman record for blocked shots with 41, breaking the previous mark of 33 that stood since 1984.
The ¡®Bows went 22-10 overall and 16-4 in Big West play last season to earn the program’s sixth Big West regular-season title and third in the last four years. Head coach Laura Beeman enters her 14th season with a roster featuring seven returnees and eight newcomers. The 15-player roster also includes 11 international players.
The Rainbow Wahine will play exhibition games against Chaminade on October 21, and Â鶹´«Ã½ Pacific University on October 28, at Bankoh Arena. They open the regular season on November 4 against Portland State. Season tickets are on sale and at the Bankoh Arena box office.
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