Posted on: Thursday, March 13, 2003

Coach, players make themselves at home

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

University of Hawai'i women's water polo coach Michel Roy has spent a lot of time at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex lately, and it's not entirely by design.

The first-year coach said the water heater at his faculty apartment "exploded" Tuesday and it left "an inch-and-a-half of water on the carpet."

Roy, his wife and two young daughters are temporarily living in his cramped pool-side office.

He said dryers are being used and he was told his family can move back in about a week.

The Rainbow Wahine have spent time away from home as well.

The team played its first nine matches in California and compiled a 3-6 overall record, 1-2 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

The Rainbows' first home match is tonight at 6 against Pacific. It is the first of eight consecutive home matches.

"I'm happy to be home," Roy said. "I'm happy that on the following two weeks we have a huge schedule ahead of us with teams from Canada, New Zealand and Australia."

He said the Rainbows will struggle against quality MPSF opponents UCLA, USC, Stanford and Long Beach State, but hopes to change that soon.

"The difference is they have world-class athletes — i.e. national team athletes — and we don't," Roy said. "Hopefully, within the next year or so we'll be able to recruit national-team athletes and be very competitive."

Roy, who is from North Vancouver, coached the Canadian men's and women's national teams from 1994-'99. But despite coaching at such a high level, he's open to his players' suggestions.

"He's very flexible," said Karin van Hoff, the lone senior on the 23-player roster. "If we want to change practice times or if we come with good arguments to change a certain thing in the play he's willing to discuss it. But you've got to come with good arguments to change his views."