The wins over higher ranked Cal and Long Beach State propelled the UCSB men’s water polo team to a No. 4 national ranking in the Collegiate Water Polo Association poll this week. It’s the program’s highest ranking since 2016.
The Gauchos moved up three spots from their ranking in the preseason poll after winning the UC San Diego Triton Invitational for the first time in program history and starting the season 4-0 for the first time since 2013.
In the tournament, the team defeated then-No. 7 Pepperdine, No. 4 Cal, and No. 5 Long Beach State.
The victory over Cal marked the Gauchos’ first win over the Golden Bears since 2004.
USC is ranked No. 1 in the poll while UCLA and Stanford share the No. 2 spot. Cal is fifth, Pacific sixth and Long Beach State seventh.
The Gauchos will play at the Inland Empire Classic in Redlands on Saturday and Sunday.
— Noozhawk Sports Editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.