Indianapolis, Calif. —  UC Irvine was one of eight teams announced in the 2023 National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championship bracket. The Anteaters will face No. 4 seed Princeton in the quarterfinals of the national tournament on Friday, Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. The 2023 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship is hosted by USC on Dec. 1-3 at Uytengsu Aquatics Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

UC Irvine (18-9) earned the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championship by defeating second-seeded and No. 9 nationally ranked UC Santa Barbara, 11-9, in the final round of the 2023 Big West Men’s Water Polo Championship. The ‘Eaters entered the championship as the top seed after earning a 4-1 record in league play. Prior to the 2023 campaign, UC Irvine was ranked fifth in the coaches’ preseason poll.  

Earlier this season the Anteaters were edged by the Tigers, 11-9 at home.  

The victor of the match between the ‘Eaters and Princeton (27-5) will play the winner of No. 1 seed UCLA (24-2) and Biola (21-12) on Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. The final match of the championship will be held on Sunday, December 3 at 3 p.m. 

The Anteaters' resume this season includes six wins versus nationally ranked opponents a Big West regular season, and a Big West championship title. This is the first time in 30 years since the ‘Eaters have qualified for the NCAA Championship in 1993.  

Overall, UC Irvine has qualified for the NCAA Championship 22 times and has captured three national NCAA Championship titles (1970, 1982, 1989).