BERKELEY -- The No. 4 California women's water polo team dished out its third win of the year over No. 5 Hawai'i to record the Golden Bears' 11th win in a 10-8 victory over the visiting Rainbow Wahine today at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Cal is now 11-3 overall, and Hawai'i goes to 11-4. 

It was a back-and-forth battle for the first 12 minutes of play before the Bears unleashed a three-goal rally to create some space. Julia Bonaguidi found Eszter Varró at the post for a blast that edged Cal ahead 5-4. Abbi Magee issued a field block against the Wahine's next 6-on-5 chance, and then she'd finish off a pass from Julianne Snyder to punch up a 6-4 Cal lead. More defensive work helped the Bears continue their push, with Despoina Drakotou nabbing a steal. Claire Rowell would find Varró for a laser soon after, and Cal was up 7-4 on its visitors. 

In the third, the Bears manufactured another three-goal surge to answer a Hawai'i push to make it a one-goal margin. Drakotou earned a 5-meter penalty shot that Bonaguidi deposited in the back of the net for her third goal of the day. Maria Bonachenko and Feline Voordouw combined forces on the counterattack next, with Voordouw finished off the setup to make it 9-6 Cal. A minute later, it was Drakotou hitting Varró, and the Bears were enjoying a 10-6 lead later in the third. Hawai'i would get a goal to go before the end of that one, and then another late in the fourth, but the Bears had the control they needed to pocket the win.

#4 Cal 10, #5 Hawai'i 8
March 15, 2026 | Spieker Aquatics Complex (Berkeley, Calif.)
CAL  2 - 5 - 3 - 0 = 10
UH   2 - 3 - 2 - 1 = 8

SCORING:
CAL -- Julia Bonaguidi 3, Despoina Drakotou 2, Eszter Varró 2, Rosalie Hassett, Abbi Magee, Feline Voordouw.
UH -- Agatha Weston 3, Ema Vernoux 2, Camille Radosavljevic 2, Ariadna Temprano Xambó.

SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 5, Daisy Logtens (UH) 10.

NEXT: Cal caps off its three-game homestand next weekend with an MPSF matchup against Indiana at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Bears take on the Hoosiers at 1 p.m. on Saturday (March 21) and will also celebrate its graduating Golden Bears in a Senior Day ceremony after the game.

NOTABLE:
- With three goals today, Julia Bonaguidi has scored multiple goals in Cal's last three games.
- With two goals, Despoina Drakotou recorded her team-best 11th game with multiple goals.
- Drakotou continues to stand as Cal's top scorer this season, now with 34 goals. 
- Drakotou, Abbi Magee (1 goal) and Feline Voordouw (1 goal) have each scored in 13 of Cal's 14 games this season.
- Cal is now 40-15 all-time against Hawai'i, with wins in all three meetings this season.

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