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HOUSTON, Texas — Defending champion UC Santa Barbara took an early lead at the 2026 Big West Women's Swiming & Diving Championshipos, compiling 70 points on the first day in the pool at Houston's CRWC Natatorium. Standout performances in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay were seen on Day 1 with two event records falling. 

In the women's 200-yard medley relay, UCSB claimed first place with a time of 1:37.69, earning 40 points as Hazel Derr, Ashley Ray, Makena Leacox and Miranda Stevenson touched the wall more than two seconds before their nearest competiors and just two one-hundredths of a second ahead of the previous Big West record. UC Davis followed closely in second, finishing in 1:39.96, while the first-year Big West affiliate San Diego took third with a time of 1:43.62. 

UC San Diego excelled in the women's 800-yard freestyle relay, capturing the top spot with a time of 7:11.42 to touch with a Big West record time. Asia Kozan, Sydney Niles, Sophia Bell and Edana Huang defended their event title with Kozan, Niles and Bell also racing to the top of the podium in record tim in 2025. Hawaii finished second in 7:17.20, narrowly edging out UC Davis, who completed the race in 7:17.75. These results helped the Tritons secure a middle position in the overall women's team rankings.

Tomorrow's action fom Houston begins at 10 a.m. CT/8 a.m. PT with the Championship session taking center stage starting at 6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT. Five more women's event champions will be crowned, including the first women's diving event of the meet.

 

1. UC Santa Barbara - 70

2. UC Davis - 66

3. San Diego - 60

t-4. Seattle U & Cal State Bakersfield - 54

6. UC San Diego - 40

7. Hawai'i - 34