The accommodations during a weeklong stay in Utah had the University of Hawaii softball team feeling quite at home.

Their hotel in Provo included comfortable suites with full kitchens, offering the option of a freshly cooked meal.

Still, there’s nothing like getting back to the islands.

"It was kind of like being home in a way," senior second baseman Dara Pagaduan said. "But it’s much better to be home. As soon as I step off the plane you get that air and you’re comfortable again."

The Rainbow Wahine landed in Honolulu on Sunday after a 13-day road trip and return to their home field today to begin a three-game Western Athletic Conference series with Louisiana Tech.

UH enters the series ranked 14th and 19th in the national polls and No. 10 in the NCAA RPI. In the WAC race, the Wahine are a game behind first-place Fresno State, with Louisiana Tech right behind.

UH will pass the midpoint of the WAC season this weekend, and will have just one more series at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium once the matchup with Louisiana Tech is complete.

"It’s our second-to-last (home) series and it’s huge because LaTech’s 5-3 and they’re coming off a sweep of New Mexico State," UH head coach Bob Coolen said. "Things are going in the right direction for them; they’re feeling good about their prospects."

A nonconference loss to Northwestern State on Tuesday might have sapped some of Louisiana Tech’s momentum, but the Lady Techsters put themselves squarely in the WAC race with last week’s sweep at home. LaTech junior Michelle Jones was named the WAC Pitcher of the Week after going 2-0 and throwing a shutout last Saturday.

UH is coming off a doubleheader split at Brigham Young to complete a 6-1 road trip. The Wahine won the first six games of the trip before giving up a season high in runs in a 7-3 loss.

"We had a good road trip. It would have been nice if we had finished the trip with a win, but I think it was good to light a flame in us," Pagaduan said.

Power in Pink

The Wahine will wear pink uniforms for Saturday’s doubleheader in the program’s annual "Power in Pink" day to raise breast cancer awareness.

After the series finale, the team will head across the street to Ching Field to take part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Pagaduan, winner of the Ahahui Koa Anuenue community service award last week, organized the team’s entry into the 12-hour event, which begins at 6 p.m.

Majam, who was treated for thyroid cancer in 2010, also hopes to make it for the Survivor Lap at 6:30.

"I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it (for the Survivor Lap), because our doubleheader will probably end around there, but maybe I’ll be able to run across and celebrate my fight," she said.