Cal State Northridge is the highest nationally ranked Big West women's water polo program for the third week in a row, checking in at No. 10in the Collegiate Water Polo Association poll. The Matadors are 11-4 overall.
NOTEWORTHY
Cal State Northridge Leads Pack Of Ranked Big West Teams
For the third consecutive week, Cal State Northridge is the highest ranked Big West school in the Collegiate Water Polo Association poll. The Matadors are No. 10 in this week’s poll after finishing 2-2 at the prestigious UC Irvine Invitational last week. CSUN owns the Big West’s best record at 11-4. UC Santa Barbara is next in the CWPA poll at No. 12, followed by No. 13 UC Irvine, No. 15 UC Davis and No. 16 Pacific. A sixth Big West school, Long Beach State, is receiving votes.
Gauchos Climbing The Ladder
UC Santa Barbara’s No. 12 ranking is the highest for the program this season, resulting from a 2-2 record at the UC Irvine Invitational. The Gauchos picked up victories against No. 13 San Diego State and No. 11 UC Irvine. In the UCI match, UCSB served notice against the defending Big West Tournament champions with a dominating 11-3 win. After 13 straight games on the road, UCSB returns home to Campus Pool to face Fresno Pacific and No. 9 Loyola Marymount. UCSB is looking for its first win over a top 10 program this year and would accomplish that against the Lions. UCSB is 0-5 against top 10 schools in 2010.
Big West Looking To Tame Ranked Teams
A handful of matches against non-conference ranked foes are on the ledger this week, and the Big West hopes to capitalize. Two of those games take place in tournament action. At the Cal Lutheran Invitational, Cal State Northridge battles No. 6 Arizona State. After opening the season with 16 straight games on the road and amassing a 7-9 record, UC Davis eagerly awaits its home opener in the Aggie Shootout. The Aggies tangle with Sonoma State, Cal State Bakersfield and No. 2 Stanford. UC Irvine plays a pair of non-conference road contests against Stanford and No. 7 San Jose State
Here are this week’s matchups against ranked opponents:
No. 10 Cal State Northridge vs. No. 6 Arizona State
No. 9 Loyola Marymount at
No. 12 UC Santa Barbara
No. 2 Stanford at
No. 15 UC Davis
No. 13 UC Irvine at No. 2 Stanford
No. 13 UC Irvine at No. 7 San Jose State
Pacific Continues To Roll
Pacific is ranked No. 16 in the CWPA poll for the third straight week. The Tigers take a season-high seven-game winning streak into the Cal Lutheran Invitational this weekend. Pacific faces Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Wagner, Whittier and host Cal Lutheran at the two-day event. With a 10-4 record, Pacific has already surpassed last year’s win total of nine.