SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — An expanded NCAA tournament field in the sport of beach volleyball worked to the benefit of the University of Hawaii in the first year of the 16-team single-elimination format.

After losing to host Cal Poly in the Big West tournament this weekend, UH (24-16) received an at-large berth it likely would not have in the old NCAA eight-team double-elimination format. The Rainbow Wahine were assigned the No. 13 seed and will face fourth-seeded Loyola Marymount in the first round Wednesday at 6 a.m. Hawaii time, televised on ESPNU.

It is UH’s fifth all-time appearance in the NCAA beach championships out of the sport’s six years as an official, annual collegiate event taking place in Gulf Shores, Ala. Cal Poly also qualified from the Big West; the Mustangs received the No. 12 seed.

Defending national champion USC is the top seed.

UH and LMU split a pair of dual matches on April 9 and 10 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. LMU (29-7) went on to win the West Coast Conference, whereas UH stumbled twice against its closest rival in the sport, Cal Poly, in the Big West tournament Friday and Saturday.

The Wahine lost 3-2 both times. The No. 5 flight of Riley Wagoner and Ilihia Huddleston was UH’s only pair to win both of its matches against the Mustangs. UH, in its first year under former assistant Evan Silberstein, defeated UC Davis and Long Beach State once each.

The eight winning schools of the NCAA first round advance to a double-elimination tournament format starting Friday.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.