After concluding a drama-packed homestand, the Rainbow Wahine water polo team didn’t have long to catch its collective breath.

UH (17-5, 2-0 Big West), ranked fourth in the nation by the Collegiate Water Polo Association, departs today for a two-match conference road trip and face No. 25 CSUN (10-16, 0-2) on Saturday and No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (12-11, 0-1) on Sunday

“It’s our only doubleheader of the conference season, so we’ve got two teams to prepare for in a short week of travel,” UH coach Maureen Cole said after the Wahine pulled out a 10-9 win over UC Davis in overtime last Saturday.

UH takes a four-game winning streak to Southern California with three of those victories decided by one goal and two going to overtime. Junior center Nikki-Marie Bell fired a season-high five goals in the win over UC Davis, including the game winner in the sudden-victory overtime period.

“We have the belief and that is a dangerous weapon,” Cole said after the match, “we have to get better defensively in a few areas, but (this) week is a huge week for us.”

Bell raised her season goal total to 35 last week and freshman Irene Gonzalez extended her team lead to 57 with four second-half goals.

“I think teams know about her so things are going to get harder and harder for her, but she’s still pulling through,” Cole said.