Rainbow Wahine fall to USC in NCAA water polo tournament
Hawaii's Caity Lopes da Silva, right, defends against Southern California's Brianna Daboub (11) during the NCAA quarterfinal women's water polo on Friday in Palo Alto, Calif. Hawaii lost 14-7.
UH water polo player sophomore Claire Nixon, one of the team's leading scorers.
University of Hawaii water polo team seniors Emily Carr, Caity Lopes de Silva and Zoe Respondek.
USC took command early and sent the University of Hawaii water polo team to a 14-7 loss in the first round of the NCAA championships on Friday in Stanford, Calif.
The Trojans jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter and remained in control to advance to face Stanford in the semifinals of the National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo Championship on Saturday. UH (18-9) fell into the consolation bracket and will face Princeton at 9 a.m. Hawaii time.
USC got goals from 11 different players with Monica Vavic, Brianna Daboub and Brigitta Games scoring twice each. Victoria Chamorro made nine saves for the Trojans while giving up five goals and the Trojans won its 16th straight meeting with UH.
Paula Chillida Esforzado led UH with three goals and the Rainbow Wahine got one each from Caity Lopes da Silva, Emily Carr, Zoe Respondek and Chloe Barr.
