2026 Men's Water Polo Preseason Poll & Team (.pdf) | 2026 Schedule
Long Beach State (17-9, 5-0 BW) has been chosen as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Big West Men’s Water Polo Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league’s six head coaches.

The reigning Big West regular-season champion Beach earned 24 points and four first-place votes to take the top spot for the third consecutive season. LBSU also placed center’s Gabi Acosta and Corbin Stanley on the seven-member preseason team.

Acosta returns as the two-time reigning Big West Player of the Year after leading the conference with 68 goals last season. The Barcelona, Spain, native also drew 34 exclusions and collected 17 steals. Stanley earned All-Big West Honorable Mention recognition after tallying 31 goals and 10 field blocks while drawing a team-high 40 exclusions. 

UC Irvine (15-12, 2-3 BW) follows in second with 19 points and one first-place vote. Utility Cole Francisco represents the Anteaters after producing 69 points on 31 goals and a team-high 38 assists while adding 23 steals. 

California Baptist (24-11, 3-3 WCC) and UC San Diego (21-10, 2-3 BW) are tied for third with 16 points apiece, with the Tritons collecting the remaining first-place vote. Attacker Andrea Nuzzo becomes California Baptist’s first Big West men’s water polo preseason selection after powering the Lancers with 140 points behind 92 goals and 48 assists. The Genoa, Italy, native also added 18 steals and eight field blocks.

UC San Diego placed attacker Landon Akerstrom and goalkeeper Alex Hegeman on the preseason squad. Akerstrom recorded four goals and three assists in five appearances after helping Team USA earn silver at the 2025 U20 World Championship. Hegeman earned Big West All-Freshman Team honors after compiling 194 saves and 32 steals with a 20-10 record in goal.

UC Santa Barbara (17-14, 3-2 BW) slots into fifth with 10 points. Attacker Charlie Johnson represents the Gauchos after earning Big West Freshman of the Year honors with 70 points on 44 goals and 26 assists. 

Cal State Fullerton (17-16, 0-5 BW) rounds out the poll in sixth with five points as the Titans enter their fourth season under head coach Kyle Witt.

Five Big West programs enter the 2026 season ranked in the national preseason poll. Long Beach State leads the group at No. 7, followed by UC San Diego at No. 12. UC Irvine and California Baptist share the No. 13 spot, while UC Santa Barbara rounds out the conference contingent at No. 15.

The 2026 season begins Friday, Aug. 28, with UC San Diego, Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara competing at the Triton Invitational. UC Irvine will host the UCI Invitational, while California Baptist begins its season on the East Coast. Conference play commences Friday, Oct. 9.

The 2026 Big West Men’s Water Polo Championship will be held Nov. 20-22 at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center in Long Beach, Calif. All six teams will compete, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes. The winner will claim the league’s automatic berth into the National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championship. 

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