2025 Big West Women's Water Polo l Schedule | Standings | Stats | Week 14 Notes (.pdf)

 What 2 Watch 4 
- Three of the four final games of 2025 are Big West battles containing postseason implications before the Championship next week.  

Another chapter of the Black and Blue rivalry takes place on Thursday, April 17 as Long Beach State visits UC Irvine at 7 p.m. Both teams enter the matchup with a 5-1 record in Big West play in a matchup that will determine the No. 2 seed in the upcoming 2025 Big West Championship. This will be the third time these two have met in the regular season after splitting competition during the non-conference segment. During the Triton Invitational, UCI topped LBSU 15-12 while the Beach took home a 14-13 win in OT over the Anteaters back at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational.  

Friday, April 18 features the final conference dates when UC Santa Barbara battles UC San Diego and Cal State Fullerton visits UC Davis. Remaining seeding will be determined following the conclusion of these contests. 

The final game of the 2025 regular season will be the Harper Cup as UC San Diego renews its rivalry with San Diego. The Tritons have kept the cup in La Jolla following the last eight meetings.  

Three contests will air live on ESPN+ this week. Check our Big West website online for dates and times. 

2025 Big West Women's Water Polo Schedule  

Championship Next Week 
- The 2025 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship will see all eight teams converge on Anteater Aquatics Complex on the campus of UC Irvine April 25-27, with an eye to the championship trophy. This marks the third time UC Irvine has played host to the Championship event, also welcoming teams to the pool in 2013 and '18.  

The quarterfinals are set to be played on Friday, April 25, with advancing teams back in the pool for semifinal competition Saturday. The final two teams will square off on Sunday, April 27 to battle for league superiority. 
 
Hawai'i claimed the 2024 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship after being runners-up in the previous two years. The top-seeded Rainbow Wahine defeated No. 3 seed Long Beach State by a final score of 9-5 in the title game at Schaal Aquatics Center on the campus of UC Davis to claim the program's fifth conference championship and first since 2021. 
 

2025 Championship Tickets on Sale
-The Big West has announced the ticket pricing structure for the 2025 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship. The 2025 championship will feature the top teams competing for the Big West title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Water Polo Championship. The championship will be held at the Anteater Aquatics Complex on the campus of UC Irvine, from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2025.  
 
Individual session tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, March 25. Ticket prices are as follows:  

• $15 for Sessions 1-3 for adults  
• $20 for Championship Session for adults  
• $8 for Session 1-3 for students  
• $10 for Championship Session for students  

Tickets can be purchased BigWest.org/WWPtix. For more information on the championship, please visit BigWest.org/WWPchamps.  
 
Around the Pool 
- Cal State Fullerton (11-19, 0-6 BW) — CSF fell against top-team UH during its final home game of 2025. Destiny Hernandez led the attack for the Titans with two tallies, increasing the senior's season total to a team-high 42 scores. The Orange and Blue conclude their regular season at UCD before gearing up for the 2025 Championship. 

No. 24 CSUN (16-12, 1-6 BW) — The Matadors fell in a close game that was decided in SDOT versus UCSB, 12-13. Dorottya Telek scored a career-high six times in the contest while teammate Anna Paul amassed four scores. CSUN does not have an opponent this week and will have a week off ahead of the 2025 Championship. 

No. 4 Hawai'i (18-4, 7-0 BW) — UH went 2-1 during its season finale road trip which resulted in capturing a consecutive regular season championship after picking up a pair of wins at UCSD and CSF. The defending champions will enjoy a week off before the 2025 Championship and will enter the postseason as the No. 1 seed for a second straight season. Ema Vernoux leads the offense for UH with a team-high 69 goals, which also ranks third overall in The Big West.  

No. 6 Long Beach State (14-10, 5-1) — The Beach enjoyed an off week after downing 10-7 victory over UCD. LBSU and UCI both have their eyes set on the No. 2 seed heading into another chapter of the Black and Blue rivalry.  When the Beach bested the 'Eaters in their last non-conference matchup, Martina Cardona and Elisa Portillo combined for 11 goals as Portillo netted the eventual game winner in overtime.  

No. 17 UC Davis (12-14, 2-4 BW) — UCD looks ahead to its season finale at Schaal Aquatics Center against CSF. Kelly Hungerford (33 goals, 26 assists) and Gianna Nocetti (22 goals, 37 assists) are currently tied for the Aggie lead in points with 59.  

No. 7 UC Irvine (14-11, 5-1 BW) — The Anteaters are off a 1-1 week that was highlighted by a 17-13 victory over UCD. Four members of UCI recorded hat tricks with Libby Alexander, Brooke Hourigan, Lauren Hett and Nioka Thomas. UCI returns home to Anteater Aquatic Complex for showdown with longtime conference foe LBSU. Hett and Thomas were the leading scores with three tallies apiece back when the 'Eaters beat LBSU 15-12 in the Triton Invitational.  

No. 13 UC San Diego (14-12, 3-3 BW) — UCSD plays a pair of contests this week after a setback versus league leading UH. The Tritons are tabbed with their final conference showdown of the season against UCSB at 6 p.m. UCSD will then face crosstown rival USD on Saturday at noon to renew another chapter in its respective rivalry. Caroline Christl has collected 90 points (76 goals, 14 assists) which ranks fourth most amongst all Big West student-athletes.  

No. 19 UC Santa Barbara (16-11, 2-4 BW) — The Gauchos hit the road once more after capturing a 13-12 win in overtime against CSUN. UCSB will take on UCSD in both teams' Big West finale this Friday. In UCSB's previous outing, Christina Mullane managed to net the game winning goal in overtime while finding the back of the net three times.  

 Weekly Highlights 
Dorottya Telek wraps up the regular year at 104 goals, shattering the senior’s previous goal record of 101 set in 2023. The center has now recorded 376 career goals.

Kelly Hungerford led the way for UCD after scoring five goals. Hungerford scored four timies within five minute span in the first quarter versus UCI. The senior reshistered one more tally in the sceond quarter and capped the game off two assists, drawn exlusion, and a steal in the game. 

Ava Donleavy made a career-high 17 saves in UCSB's 13-12 OT win over CSUN. Donleavy stopped a five-meter penalty shot from the conference's leading goal-scorer and only goalkeeper in The Big West to rank in the top two in save percentage (.482) and goals-against average (9.41) this season.

 Poll Position 
- Seven Big West institutions remain in the Week 13 edition of the CWPA national rankings. 

Hawai'i caps off its regular season as the No. 4 team in the nation while Long Beach State and UC Irvine stay put at both No. 6 and No. 7 to round out the list of top 10 representee's of the conference.  

From there, UC San Diego sits at No. 13 while UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara are No.17 and No. 19, respectively. CSUN caps off the list in the poll in at No. 24 

CWPA Rankings

 Big West Stats Leaders
Goals: Dorottya Telek, CSUN, 104 goals
Assists: Anna Pal, CSUN, 65 assists
Points: Dorottya Telek, CSUN, 140 points
Field Blocks: Dorottya Telek, CSUN, 18 field blocks
Steals: Anna Pal, CSUN, 51 steals
Saves: Annabelle Sherman, Cal State Fullerton, 200 saves
Save Pecentage: Chelsea Oliver, Long Beach State, .488 (184 saves)
Sprint Wins: Gianna Nocetti, UC Davis, 65 sprint wins

Big West Stats

 Big West Weekly Recognition
- Bernadette Doyle dominated during UH's three game road trip helping the team secure back-to-back regular season titles to earn The Big West Women's Water Polo Player of the Week award for the second time this season (March 19). The attacker amassed two tallies, paired with a trio of assists and steals to start the road trip off against conference foe T-No. 11 UC San Diego. Doyle dawned the 10th hat trick of the year versus No. 4 UCLA before concluding the regular season with yet another three score game, increasing the senior's career hat trick total to 21. Overall, the Auckland New Zealand native notched eight goals (51.7 shooting %), six assists and seven steals during the three-game span. Doyle leads the team in assists (34) and steals (40) and ranks second in points (80), and third in goals (46). 

 2025 Cutino Awards Watch List
-The 2025 Cutino Awards Watch List has been announced and the names of four outstanding Big West student-athletes dot the list. This watch list was created in 2022 in an effort to help promote the college game, awareness of the honor, and the excellent play of athletes across the country. The top 20 athletes, as submitted by varsity college coaches, have been recognized for their outstanding play. While it's possible the 2025 Cutino Award winner will come from the list of athletes below, this list of honorees is completely independent from the nomination and voting process of the Cutino Award as that honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2025 season 

Martina Cardona | Long Beach State, Senior, Attacker  

Bernadette Doyle | Hawai'i, Senior, Attacker 

Lauren Hett | UC Irvine, Sophomore, Attacker  

Dorottya Telek | CSUN, Senior, Center 

 2025 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame

- USA Water Polo has announced its 41st Hall of Fame Class, with Big West greats Ricardo Azevedo of LBSU and Denny Harper of UCSB being recognized amongst the list of prestigious honorees.  

Azevedo is the third Long Beach State head coach to be inducted to the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame where previously Gavin Arroyo and Ken Lindgren have been added.  

At Long Beach State, Azevedo played for two seasons (1978-1979) and came back to the Beach to coach both programs leading the men's team from 1999-2005 (107-96) and the women's from 2000-2005 (119-75). In 2002, Azevedo was awarded MPSF Women's Water Polo Coach of the Year.   

Outside of LBSU, Azevedo played the Brazilian Water Polo team at 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. As a coach, he led the USA men's team in 1996 Atlanta and 2004 Athens Olympic Games. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Azevedo was the head coach of the Chinese Women's team. After the Olympics, he headed back to his hometown and became the technical director of the Brazilian Water Polo team from 2017-2019.   

Harper, who announced his retirement from UC San Diego in July of 2022, spent 42 years at the helm of the UC San Diego men's program. He also led the Triton women's team from 1985 until 1999. His teams combined for 942 victories. 
 
The Triton men posted a 697-496-4 (.584) record between 1980, his first season with the Tritons, and 2021, his final season at the helm. He was named the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) National Coach of the Year 17 times and the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Coach of the Year 19 times. In 2024, Harper was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the ACWPC. 

The Tritons advanced to the NCAA Championship on 15 different occasions, finishing second for the first time ever in 2000. In 1995, Harper's squad became the first Division III team to advance to the NCAA Final Four, repeating the feat in 1998 and 1999. 
 
Under Harper's direction, UC San Diego proved to be a regular contender in the WWPA since the league began sponsoring championships in 1981. In 35 seasons, the Tritons captured 18 titles and 14 runner-up trophies. UC San Diego has been consistently ranked among the top-12 teams in the NCAA rankings and rose as high as No. 3 in the nation in 2006. 
 
Harper coached the UC San Diego women's water polo team from 1985 through 1999, compiling a 245-122-2 overall record. The Tritons won five USA Water Polo crowns, one national runner-up effort, and two national third-place trophies. 
 
A 1978 graduate of San Diego State University, Harper coached at Rancho Alamitos High School, Indio High School, and SDSU before coming to UC San Diego. 
 
Harper played two years at Santa Barbara City College before moving on to San Diego State to finish his college career. He also began his collegiate coaching career at SDSU, leading the women's club team. Harper graduated in 1978. He helped the Aztecs to a 130-18 record. 
 
In late 1979, fate intervened when best friend and former SBCC teammate Russ Hafferkamp asked Harper if he wanted to lead the UC San Diego men. It was a life-changing decision that turned a passion into a career. His four-plus decade run with the men's squad is nothing short of legendary.   

The 2025 class also includes two of the most formidable defenders in Team USA history - Melissa Seidemann, a three-time Olympic and world champion, and Jesse Smith, a five-time Olympian and 2008 silver medalist. It also includes coaching great Ricardo Azevedo as well as official/referee David Alberstein. 

 
 Preseason Prognostications 
- UC Irvine has narrowly been chosen as the top team in the 2025 Big West women's water polo preseason poll with 44 points and three first-place votes after compiling a 5-2 record in conference play last season.  

Defending conference champion Hawai'i resides in second place with 42 points and a first-place vote. Long Beach State accumulated the most first-place votes (4), but lands right behind UH with 41 points, placing third in the poll.  

UC San Diego sees itself in fourth with 32 points while UC Davis sits at No. 5 with 24 points. 

The sixth and seventh slots were decided by two points as CSUN (18) edges UC Santa Barbara (16). Cal State Fullerton rounds out the 2025 edition of the poll with seven points.  

Coaches around the conference also voted on a seven-person preseason team ahead of the year. Hawai'i and Long Beach State put a pair on the list while CSUN, UC Irvine, and UC San Diego see a student-athlete represent their institutions on the team.  

Senior attacker Bernadette Doyle and Daisy Logtens represent UH on the preseason team. Doyle was named to the ACWPC All-America Second Team and All-Big West First Team a year ago after leading UH in points (27) and assists (13) during conference play and finished first in the league with 49 steals (2.0 per game). The Aukland, New Zealand native was also named the 2024 Big West Championship MVP following a four goal and four steal performance. Logtens logged a spot after leading The Big West in save percentage (.599) and goals against average (7.42), also earning ACWPC All-America Second Team and All-Big West First Team accolades as a freshman. LBSU's duo senior attacker Martina Cardona and junior attacker Elisa Portillo dot the preseason team. Cardona made way on the list after logging 44 tallies and 24 assists in 2024. Portillo placed second on the Beach with 55 goals (sixth in conference) and earned All-Big West Second Team honors.  

Dorottya Telek of CSUN has made the preseason team for the second straight season. The senior center led the conference with 94 goals in 2024, en route to earning All-Big West First Team accolades as a junior.  

Two senior centers round out the 2025 preseason team with Kendall Thomas of UCSD and Nioka Thomas of UCI.  

The Merced, Calif. native managed to score 61 points (50 goals, 11 assists) for the Tritons in 2024 earning All-Big West First Team honors and has been named a preseason honoree in back-to-back seasons. 

Nioka Thomas spent the 2024 season with the Australian National Team but placed second on the Anteaters with 53 goals and posted four goal games seven times in 2023 as a sophomore.  

The first date of Big West women's water polo competition begins on Friday, Jan. 17 in Fullerton, Calif. as the Titans take on Cal State Monterey Bay and Ottawa (Ariz.). Conference play in the pool begins on Saturday, March 1, featuring two games on the slate when UC San Diego visits UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara travels to Long Beach State. Regular season action concludes on Saturday, April 19, a week ahead of the Championship. The full 2025 regular season schedule can be found here.

The 2025 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship will be help at Anteater Aquatics Complex from April 25-27 on the campus of UC Irvine. The winner of the championship will receive the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championship.   

Select regular-season contests are slated for telecast on the ESPN family of networks. Please
check ESPN listings for upcoming game schedules and additional information.   
 

 2024 Honors 
All-America First Team

All-America Second Team

All-America Third Team

All-America Honorable Mention

All-Big West First Team

All-Big West Second Team

After finishing as championship runners-up the last two years, top-seeded Hawai'i sealed the deal and reigned triumphant in the 2024 Big West Women's Water Polo Championship, defeating No. 3 seed Long Beach State the title match, 9-5.  

The Rainbow Wahine would go on and win their quarterfinal matchup over Princeton, 11-6 before bowing out in the semifinal round of the 2024 National Colligate Women's Water Polo Championship versus host-site and No. 3 California. Overall, Big West representative Hawai'i reached the NC Championship's final four for the first time since 2013 and finished at No. 3 in the national polls, the highest placement in program history