BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSUB water polo team is ranked No. 17 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) preseason poll. Last year, the Roadrunners rose to as high as No. 14 in the nation before earning a final ranking of No. 19.
There are 13 confirmed opponents on this season’s schedule that are preseason ranked or had received votes. Highlighting the slate is No. 1 Stanford (Mar. 7), No. 2 USC (Apr. 3), No. 7 San Diego State (Mar. 14), No. 8 Arizona State (Jan. 30) and No. 9 UC Irvine (Jan. 30).
Also listed on this year’s schedule is No. 11 Loyola Marymount (Mar. 12), No. 12 Cal State Northridge (Feb. 14), No. 13 Hartwick (Feb. 12), No. 14 UC Davis (Mar. 6), No. 15 UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 23), and No. 16 Long Beach State (Jan. 30 & Apr. 17). Princeton and Marist, which both received votes, will play the Roadrunners on March 13 and March 14, respectively. Opening weekend opponent Pomona–Pitzer (Jan. 23) is ranked as the top Division III program. Cal Lutheran, who will attend the Roadrunner Invitational I (Feb. 12) enters as the No. 2 team in the Division III rankings. Also on the Division III rankings is WWPA member Chapman, which checks in at No. 7.
The ‘Runners are attending No. 18 Santa Clara’s invitational (Apr. 10–11) but the schedule of games has not been confirmed at the present time. The second installment of the Roadrunner Invitational (Mar. 27–28) has also not been completely finalized. The UC San Diego Invitational (Feb. 6–7) is an advancement tournament and the opening matches have not been set.
CSUB begins its season this Saturday at the UC Santa Barbara Mini Tournament. The ’Runners will take on No. 15 UC Santa Barbara at 11 a.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. match against Division III top–ranked Pomona–Pitzer. The games will be played at the recreation center pool on UC Santa Barbara's campus.
Courtesy: CSU Bakersfield Sports Information http://www.gorunners.com/ The Roadrunners begin the season on Saturday as the nation's No. 17 ranked team.
Courtesy: CSU Bakersfield Sports Information
