The Hawaii women’s water polo team was slotted in a tie for sixth with UC Irvine in the Collegiate Water Polo Association national preseason poll announced Wednesday.

It was the sixth straight year UH was in the top eight of the preseason standings.

UH lost 8-7 to Irvine in triple overtime in the 2018 Big West tournament championship game at UC Irvine and finished ranked No. 7 with a 21-5 record.

Coach Maureen Cole’s Rainbow Wahine, who feature All-American attacker Irene Gonzalez, open up the 2019 season in the Rainbow Invite, beginning Saturday against Marist (noon) and Sonoma State (6 p.m.) at UH.