LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 10th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team begins its 2024 season this weekend at UC Santa Barbara's Winter Invitational.

All games will be held at Santa Barbara High School, located at 700 E Anapamu St. in Santa Barbara. Admission to all games will be free and open to the public until the venue's capacity is reached.

Saturday, the Tritons will face Ottawa and No. 3 UCLA. Sunday, they take on Marist and Whittier.

Last season at the same tournament, UC San Diego posted an even 2-2 record with wins against Cal State Monterey Bay and Pomona-Pitzer and losses to Indiana and UCLA.
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THE ESSENTIALS
--- Game 1: Non-Conference ---
• #10 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. Ottawa (0-0)
• Saturday / January 20 / 10:30 am Pacific
• Santa Barbara High School / Santa Barbara, Calif. (map)
• Entry: Free of charge until venue capacity is reached
• Tournament Central
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram

--- Game 2: Non-Conference ---
• #10 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. #3 UCLA (0-0)
• Saturday / January 20 / 3:30 pm Pacific
• Santa Barbara High School / Santa Barbara, Calif. (map)
• Entry: Free of charge until venue capacity is reached
• Tournament Central
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram

--- Game 3: Non-Conference ---
• #10 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. #25 Marist (0-0)
• Sunday / January 21 / 9:15 am Pacific
• Santa Barbara High School / Santa Barbara, Calif. (map)
• Entry: Free of charge until venue capacity is reached
• Tournament Central
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram

--- Game 4: Non-Conference ---
• #10 UC San Diego (0-0) vs. Whittier (0-0)
• Sunday / January 21 / 1 pm Pacific
• Santa Barbara High School / Santa Barbara, Calif. (map)
• Entry: Free of charge until venue capacity is reached
• Tournament Central
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram
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THOMAS NAMED TO ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES' TEAM
Junior Kendall Thomas was recently named to the 2024 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. In 2023, Thomas rang up 67 points on 56 goals and 11 assists. The center led the Tritons in drawn exclusions with 42 and was second on the team in points and goals. Among all Big West players, she ranked seventh in goals and 10th in points. Thomas scored multiple goals in 16 games including a career-best seven in a win against conference opponent Cal State Fullerton. In the annual Harper Cup game against San Diego State, Thomas scored with three seconds left to give the Tritons a 10-9 win and keep the cup in La Jolla for the seventh-consecutive season. Thomas earned several accolades in 2023 including All-America Honorable Mention from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC), All-Big West Second Team, and Harper Cup MVP. She also won academic awards from the Big West and ACWPC.
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'TIS THE PRESEASON
2024 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Irvine: 47 points, 5 first-place votes
2. Hawai'i: 42, 1
3. Long Beach State: 40, 2
4. UC San Diego: 31
5. UC Davis: 23
6. UC Santa Barbara: 20
7. CSUN: 13
8. Cal State Fullerton: 8

2024 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team
Rachel Kowalchick: Sr., Center, Long Beach State
Bia Mantellato Dias: So., Center, Hawai'i
Elisa Portillo: So., Attacker, Long Beach State
Faith Tedesco: Sr., Goalkeeper, UC Irvine
Dorottya Telek: Sr., Center, CSUN
Kendall Thomas: Jr., Center, UC San Diego
Nioka Thomas: Jr., Center, UC Irvine
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TAKE ME BACK
In 2023, the Tritons went 14-17 overall and posted a 4-3 Big West record. They finished strong, winning five of their last six games. As the fourth seed in the Big West Championship, UC San Diego defeated fifth-seeded UC Davis in a quarterfinal and fell against top-seeded and eventual conference winner UC Irvine in the semifinal round. Kendall Thomas, Caroline Christl and Courtney Okumura also earned ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention. Sofia Munatones and Sydney Munatones joined that trio in gaining Big West postseason recognition. All five standouts return for 2024.
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2024 UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (20)
Annika Arroyo, UTL
Allie Bartholomew, ATT
Lauren Bellavia, ATT
Caroline Christl, UTL
Lucia Doak, CD
Sila Fedler, UTL
Sasha Frey, ATT
Hannah Kawar, C
Kenzie Larson, ATT
Grayson Mix, UTL
Abby Moll, ATT
Sofia Munatones, ATT
Sydney Munatones, ATT
Courtney Okumura, ATT
Olivia Seargeant, UTL
Lexi Stahl, GK
Cascade Stensland, CD
Kendall Thomas, C
Katie Ward, GK
Bria Zwaschka, GK

Lost (8)
Caroline Courtois, ATT
Natalie DiMeo, ATT
Tania Frank, ATT
Madisongrace Guerra, GK
Maja Layden, C
Maddie Solares, ATT
Kayla Peacock, ATT
Carson Rampelberg, ATT

Newcomers (7)
Kyla Bruhn, ATT
Emily Cloherty, ATT
Paedrin Gillett, GK
Zoe Grover, ATT
Maddie McMahon, UTL
Olivia Obando, ATT
Abigail Schechter, UTL
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CWPA NATIONAL POLL (preseason)
T-1. Stanford
T-1. USC
3. UCLA
4. Californnia
T-5. UC Irvine
T-5. Hawai'i
7. Long Beach State
8. Princeton
9. Fresno State
10. UC San Diego
11. UC Davis
12. UC Santa Barbara
13. Michigan
14. Arizona State
15. Indiana
16. Pacific
17. Harvard
T-18. Loyola Marymount
T-18. San Jose State
20. Wagner
T-21. Long Island University
T-21. CSUN
23. San Diego State
24. Brown
T-25. Marist
T-25. Pomona-Pitzer
T-25. Biola
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UC SAN DIEGO IN THE NATIONAL POLL
Preseason: 10
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HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP
Brad Kreutzkamp is in his 15th season as head coach of the UC San Diego women's water polo program in 2024. In 14 seasons at the helm, Kreutzkamp has led UC San Diego to eight Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) championships and eight appearances at the NCAA Championship. He holds an overall record of 278-197 (.585) during his tenure and has been named the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) and WWPA Coach of the Year five times during this stretch. Full Bio
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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
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GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.
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WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.