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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, March 30, 2006

WATER POLO
UH hosts UCLA tomorrow in home finale

Advertiser Staff

Wendell

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Yogi

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The fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i women's water polo team will play its final Mountain Pacific Sports Federation home match tomorrow against No. 3 UCLA.

The match starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Hawai'i (11-7 overall, 5-3 MPSF) finishes the week with an exhibition match against New Zealand Sunday at 11 a.m.

Yesterday, Hawai'i defeated No. 15 Hartwick (N.Y.), 12-6, behind five goals by Iefke Van Belkum. Kelly Mason and Kristy Bagnall had two each, and Anna Sieprath, Katie Thompson and Emily Cox one apiece for UH in the non-conference match. Bronwen Knox led Hartwick (17-9) with four goals.

The Rainbow Wahine have won two of their last three MPSF matches. UCLA (20-2, 7-0) is 24-0 all-time against Hawai'i, and beat UH twice this season.

Tomorrow will be the final home MPSF regular-season match for seniors Jamie Wendell and Mari Yogi. Wendell is a goalie from Pomona, Calif. Yogi is a 2001 Kaiser graduate and plays driver.

Wendell has filled in for UH's injured All-American Meike De Nooy. On Sunday, Wendell started and played in her first match of the season against visiting San Jose State and made seven saves in a 12-8 victory. She had three saves in Tuesday's 12-6 loss to No. 2 Stanford, and four saves in yesterday's victory over Hartwick.

"She's been very useful, and a big part of the team," UH coach Michel Roy said. "She's done her job, and we're very pleased with her. She's somebody who knows what we're doing."

Yogi has five goals in 17 games this season. She is the first player off the bench, and Roy said he's "considering starting her in the near future."

"She's come a long way," Roy said. "She's almost a starter on our team. She's a solid defensive player, she can swim up and down, and she's very useful. She's up there with the best players we have."

Hawai'i finishes its regular season on the road at Loyola Marymount on April 13, and at USC on April 14, before closing with two matches against Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge, April 15, at Long Beach State.

The MPSF Championships will be at Irvine, Calif., April 27 to 30.