Idle Wahine move up in poll, rating index

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While Hawaii’s record remained the same during the bye week, the Rainbow Wahine saw changes to both their national ranking in the coaches poll and the Rating Percentage Index released Monday.

Hawaii (18-1, 8-0 Big West) moved up two spots to No. 6 in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25, the Wahine’s highest ranking since also being at No. 6 the second week of the 2012 season.

USC (22-0) remained the unanimous No. 1 pick, while Texas (18-1) also stayed put at No. 2. Defending national champion Penn State (19-2) moved up two spots to No. 3, with Minnesota (17-3) jumping five spots to No. 4, helped by its win at Nebraska, one of two losses at home last week for the former third-ranked and now eighth-ranked Huskers (16-4).

Pac-12 teams surround the Wahine, with Washington at No. 5 and Stanford at No. 7

UCLA (17-3), the only team to beat Hawaii this season, moved up two places to No. 8. The Rainbow Wahine remain the lone Big West team ranked, but Long Beach State (17-5, 7-2) did receive 22 points, putting the 49ers at 30th.

In the computer-generated RPI used by the NCAA selection committee to help seed the postseason tournament, Hawaii moved up to 23rd, three spots higher than last week. Florida (15-4), which lost to the Wahine in five on Sept. 11, replaced USC at No. 1.

One-loss teams rated ahead of Hawaii in the RPI are Texas (3, 18-1), Kansas (9, 19-1) and Arkansas State (16, 20-1).

The Wahine, riding a 13-match winning streak, finish out their regular-season home schedule with matches Friday against UC Riverside (7-15, 2-7) at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton (0-20, 0-8). Seniors Tai Manu-Olevao and Olivia Magill will be honored after Sunday’s match.