A week after taking on the nation’s best, the fourth-ranked Rainbow Wahine water polo team begins Big West play by facing No. 7 UC Irvine today at Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

The conference opener is set for 6 p.m. and is part of a three-match week for UH (13-5), which will also face No. 10 UC San Diego and No. 24 CSU Bakersfield on Saturday.

UH went 1-2 against UC Irvine last season with all three matches decided by one goal. The Anteaters (11-8) edged UH in their Big West regular-season meetings, but the ’Bows pulled out a 9-8 win in overtime in the Big West tournament championship game at DKAC to earn a spot in the NCAA championships.

“With every team in our conference it seems to go that way, especially with Irvine,” UH coach Maureen Cole said. “They’re a great team and a great coached team, so it’ll be a battle.”

UH is coming off a 9-5 loss to No. 1 USC in its home opener on March 17. The Wahine trailed 6-4 at halftime before the Trojans pulled away after the break.

“I think although we lost we gained a little bit of confidence playing with them and just improving every day,” Cole said.

UH is scheduled to face UCSD at noon on Saturday and CSUB at 6 p.m.