With four countries represented among five members, diversity is the most readily recognizable trait of the Hawaii water polo team’s senior class.
The most enduring may be the quintet’s contributions to a chemistry evidenced by the Rainbow Wahine program’s ascent into the upper reaches of the national rankings.
“They are true servants of the team,” UH coach Maureen Cole said. “They put the team before themselves every single day and they’ve done that consistently in their time here. … That’s definitely been passed on to the underclassmen and created an amazing culture.”
Culture is an operative concept for a program that annually melds talents from around the globe, and this year’s senior class of Chloe Barr (Australia), Kayla Chang (Laie), Ymane Hage (Canada), Claire Nixon (England) and Erika Pauley (California) provides a microcosm of that mix.
But when reminded of their far-flung backgrounds, their response spoke to the bond they’ve formed in Manoa.
“I didn’t even think about that,” Barr began before Nixon finished the thought.
“We just play for Hawaii.”
The UH seniors play their final match at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex on Saturday when the fifth-ranked Rainbow Wahine (17-4, 2-0 Big West) face No. 14 Long Beach State (11-11, 2-1). The opening sprint for the conference match is set for 6 p.m.
The Wahine enter the week as the Big West’s highest ranked team and the only one without a conference loss, and Cole credits the seniors for helping keep the team focused heading into the late stages of the season.
“This process with this group has been so fun because of the leadership and the approach to the team and the selflessness,” Cole said. “Everyone in that group has such a different role, but it’s all part of the big puzzle and they’ve embraced what they’ve got to do whether it’s a flashy job or not.”
Barr enters senior night with the most striking numbers, with 36 goals this season, good for second on the team behind junior Irene Gonzalez’s 46. She also moved into sixth on UH’s career chart with 164.
Barr and Nixon — who has 22 goals and 29 assists this season — redshirted two years ago after training with their national teams, and Barr said her time in Hawaii “rekindled the love for the sport.”
“You play on other teams, you play on national teams and club teams and it’s just not the same feeling of family that we have here,” Barr said, “and that’s really the reason I play, to be able to connect with other people, and I rediscovered that here.”
On a team with five players with at least 20 goals, melding the roster’s individual talents wasn’t as simple as tossing the ball into the pool.
“It takes a lot of time and really working with people and practicing hard together and going through it all together to build that connection,” said Pauley, who will head to Benin in West Africa to serve in the Peace Corps after graduation. “It definitely doesn’t happen naturally.”
Cole noted Pauley’s contributions on the Wahine defense in front of Hage, a four-year starter in goal. Senior night figures to be bittersweet for Hage, who ranks third in the Big West with 105 saves but will spend Saturday’s match on the pool deck due to injury.
“For her to not be able to play her senior night, I know she’s probably super bummed,” Barr said, “but we want to do it for her.”
With Hage’s injury, Chang moved into the backup spot behind Molly DiLalla. After helping Kahuku win four OIA titles, Chang spent two years in California at Riverside City College before transferring to UH last season to take her shot at playing Division I water polo.
“It was my goal to let (local) girls know that you can play at the next level,” said Chang, who recently visited with the Kailua and Castle water polo teams to impart that message. “I just wanted the opportunity to give back and to play at this level to show my family that I’m really thankful for what they’ve done.”
