Rainbow Wahine wait for NCAA call
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i softball team has reservations for lunch today at a popular restaurant in Fresno, Calif.
By the time the meal is served, the Rainbow Wahine expect to have reservations for an NCAA Regional berth. The field will be announced today at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time on ESPN News.
"No problem," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "We should get one."
The Rainbows were ousted after going 1-2 in the double-elimination Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Fresno State's campus.
But Coolen said the Rainbows already accomplished what they needed to do to return to the regionals for the first time since 2003. Their argument, according to Coolen, is:
"I would say we're in," Coolen said. "They shouldn't be able to deny us."
But Coolen said the Rainbows probably did not do enough to merit a host's role for one of the 16 regional sites.
"If we won the (WAC) tournament, we had a good chance to be a No. 1 seed," Coolen said. "Now we're looking at being a 2 or 3 seed."
Coolen said Washington, Arizona and Fresno State will likely be named regional hosts among schools in the West.
If UCLA is named a host, Coolen said, the Rainbows probably will be sent there. Unlike most other sports, the NCAA does not announce the regional sites until the day it announces the 64-team field.
The Rainbows will remain in Fresno through tomorrow, then travel to the regional site.
