The ASU women's water polo team travels to Honolulu this weekend to take on No. 5 Hawaii Sunday.
The No. 9 Sun Devils (1-3) last hit the pool when they finished seventh in the Stanford Invitational two weeks ago and used the extra week of practice to get ready for the Rainbow Wahine.
"We have been practicing pretty intensely," goalie Caylinn Wallace said. "[Head coach Todd Clapper's] been working us pretty hard to get us ready for that game because it's going to be a battle."
"We started off last week really hard and we've been going hard ever since," all-around player Addison Doud said. "There's been a lot of scrimmaging and a lot of really, really physical play in practice."
The game will be the first conference match up for the Sun Devils.
"Our conference is so tight, and when you're playing on the road, it's even more difficult," Clapper said. "So if we can pick up a road win against Hawaii, it will be huge."
Hawaii is currently 3-3 (1-1) and will face No. 6 San Diego State on Friday and No. 15 Long Beach State on Saturday before taking on ASU on Sunday.
The Sun Devils beat the Rainbow Wahine both times the teams played last season.
While ASU is the underdog in the game, the Sun Devils believe that they have some favorable match ups.
"I really think the centers are going to play a big part in that win," Clapper said. "Since [Hawaii is] a tall, strong team, our tall, strong players are going to have perform with limited rest. Our smaller players are going to have to be smarter, and they're going to have to stay off defensively."
One area the Sun Devils believe they have an advantage in is their depth.
"They have a pretty good starting six, but I think we have some depth," Doud said. "If we can force them to get tired and start pulling players from their bench, that will be really good. We can sub six in and six out and keep the intensity up."
If the Devils can go out and get the win, Clapper believes it will be a huge lift for the team and will propel it into the rest of the conference season.
"[A win would] be validation for the team and their hard work," Claper said. "You can't really put a price on it."
Reach the reporter at: gina.mizell@asu.edu.
