No. 5 Wahine beat No. 13 Fresno State

UH water polo team wins fifth-place match at Barbara Kalbus Invitational

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The No. 5 University of Hawaii women's water polo team defeated No. 13 Fresno State 11-9 in the fifth-place match of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Sunday. UH sophomores Ema Vernoux and Ariadna Temprano Xambo each scored hat tricks to lead the Rainbow Wahine to victory.

Why it matters

The win over a ranked opponent continues Hawaii's strong start to the season and demonstrates the team's depth and talent, as multiple players stepped up to contribute offensively.

The details

UH led 4-3 at halftime and then went on a 5-1 run in the third quarter to take control of the match. In addition to the hat tricks from Vernoux and Temprano Xambo, Agatha Weston scored two goals and had two assists, while Gabrielle Doyle recorded three assists.

  • The match took place on Sunday, February 16, 2026 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, California.

The players

Ema Vernoux

A sophomore on the University of Hawaii women's water polo team who scored three goals in the win over Fresno State.

Ariadna Temprano Xambo

A freshman on the University of Hawaii women's water polo team who also scored three goals in the victory.

University of Hawaii women's water polo team

The No. 5 ranked women's water polo team from the University of Hawaii, who improved their record to 7-3 on the season with the win.

Fresno State

The No. 13 ranked women's water polo team that lost to Hawaii in the fifth-place match of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.

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The takeaway

Hawaii's women's water polo team continues to demonstrate its status as one of the top programs in the country, with multiple players stepping up to contribute in a victory over a ranked opponent.