LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 12th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team is back in action this week as it travels to No. 2 Hawai'i for a Big West showdown.
The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. Pacific start Friday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
Riding a current seven-game win streak, the Tritons are 14-8 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The Rainbow Wahine have won three straight and are 15-3 on the season, 2-0 in the Big West.
THE ESSENTIALS
--- Game 23: Big West ---
• #12/14 UC San Diego (14-8, 2-0) at #2/2
Hawai'i (15-3, 3-0)
• Friday / March 29 / 9pm Pacific
•
Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex / Honolulu, Hawai'i
•
Live Stats
•
Twitter /
Instagram
ABOUT THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule & Results |
Statistics
• Location: La Jolla, Calif.
• Conference: Big West
• Overall: 14-8
• Big West: 2-0
• Home: 2-4
• Away: 2-0
• Neutral: 10-4
• Streak: 7 wins
• Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) national ranking: 14
• Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national ranking: 12
• Big West Preseason Poll: 4th of 8
ABOUT THE HAWAI'I RAINBOW WAHINE
Roster |
Schedule & Results |
Statistics
• Location: Honolulu, Hawai'i
• Conference: Big West
• Overall: 15-3
• Big West: 3-0
• Home: 6-0
• Away: 1-1
• Neutral: 8-2
• Streak: 3 wins
• Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) national ranking: 2
• Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national ranking: 2
• Big West Preseason Poll: 1st of 8
TRITONS v RAINBOW WAHINE - THE SERIES
• All-time: Hawai'i leads 28-4
• Last meeting: 3/30/23 (
UH wins 12-10 in La Jolla)
• Last UC San Diego win: 3/10/21 (
10-9 in La Jolla, Calif.)
• Streak: Hawai'i 5 wins
TRITON DEBUTS
Four UC San Diego freshmen made their collegiate debuts against Ottawa on Jan. 20 at UC Santa Barbara's Winter Invitational. The foursome accounted for five goals, two assists, and six steals in the Tritons' 23-2 victory.
•
Emily Cloherty: 2 shots, 2 goals, 1 drawn exclusion, 1 steal
•
Maddie McMahon: 1 shot, 1 goal, 1 steal
•
Olivia Obando: 1 shot, 1 goal, 3 steals
•
Abigail Schechter: 1 shot, 1 goal, 2 assists, 1 steal
TRITON LEADERS
(through 3/28)
•
Goals:
Caroline Christl 41
•
Assists:
Sydney Munatones 23
•
Points:
Courtney Okumura 49 (27 goals, 22 assists)
•
Shots:
Caroline Christl 97
•
Drawn Exclusions:
Kendall Thomas 30
•
Steals:
Lexi Stahl, 18
•
Field Blocks:
Sofia Munatones,
Kendall Thomas 5
•
Saves: Lexi Stahl 105
TRITONS AMONG THE BIG WEST LEADERS
(through 3/28, all games)
•
Caroline Christl: 4th in goals/game (2.0), 7th in goals (41)
•
Sofia Munatones: 6th in sprint wins (15)
• Courtney Okumura: 2nd in sprint wins (25)
• Lexi Stahl: 8th in saves (105)
• Katie Ward: 10th in saves (54)
ACTIVE TRITON SCORING STREAKS
(through 3/28)
•
Caroline Christl: 8
•
Courtney Okumura: 3
•
Abigail Schechter: 3
TRITON GAME-WINNING GOALS
(through 3/28)
•
Annika Arroyo: 1 (UC Irvine)
•
Cascade Stensland: 3 (California Baptist 2, Whittier, Biola)
•
Caroline Christl: 3 (Ottawa, La Verne, Princeton)
•
Kenzie Larson: 1 (Concordia)
•
Grayson Mix: 2 (Fresno Pacific, Marist)
•
Lucia Doak: 1 (California Baptist 1)
•
Courtney Okumura: 1 (Biola 2)
•
Abigail Schechter: 1 (La Salle)
• Kendall Thomas: 1 (CSUN)
TRITON RECORDS
(through 3/28)
| Overall |
14-8 |
| Big West |
2-0 |
| Non-conference |
12-8 |
| At home |
2-4 |
| On the road |
2-0 |
| At a neutral site |
10-4 |
| In overtime |
0-0 |
| Scoring 4-6 goals |
1-2 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-3 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
2-3 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
6-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
1-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
3-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
1-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
12-2 |
| Opponent has more steals |
0-6 |
| Steals are even |
2-0 |
| More shots than opponent |
10-6 |
| Opponent has more shots |
3-1 |
| Shots are even |
1-1 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
4-1 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
5-4 |
| Exclusions are even |
2-3 |
| More field blocks than opponent |
5-2 |
| Opponent has more field blocks |
3-6 |
| Field blocks are even |
6-0 |
| On Fridays |
1-3 |
| On Saturdays |
7-3 |
| On Sundays |
6-2 |
2024 AWARDS
• Kendall Thomas: All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team, UCU Athlete of the Week (1/29)
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
AYE AYE CAPTAIN
The Tritons' co-captains this season are senior
Annika Arroyo and junior
Lexi Stahl.
THOMAS NAMED TO ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES' TEAM
Junior
Kendall Thomas was 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.
'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
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.
2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
(3/27)
1. UCLA
2. Hawai'i
T-3. Stanford
T-3. USC
5. California
T-6. Long Beach State
T-6. Loyola Marymount
8. UC Irvine
9. Fresno State
10. Arizona State
11. Michigan
12. UC San Diego
13. UC Davis
14. Indiana
15. UC Santa Barbara
16. Princeton
17. San Jose State
18. Wagner
19. Harvard
20. Pacific
21. Long Island University
22. San Diego State
23. Pomona-Pitzer
24. Brown
25. CSUN
Receiving votes: Azusa Pacific,California Baptist, Marist
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
Week 10 (3/27): 12
Week 9 (3/20): 12
Week 8 (3/13): 11
Week 7 (3/6): T-13
Week 6 (2/28): 15
Week 5 (2/21): T-13
Week 4 (2/14): 14
Week 3 (2/7): 14
Week 2 (1/31): 9
Week 1 (1/24): 10
Preseason (1/11): 10
2024 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL
(3/27)
1. UCLA
2. Hawai'i
3. Stanford
4. USC
5. California
6. Fresno State
7. Loyola Marymount
8. Arizona State
9. UC Irvine
10. Long Beach State
11. Michigan
12. Princeton
13. Indiana
14. UC San Diego
15. UC Santa Barbara
16. UC Davis
17. Harvard
18. San Jose State
19. Wagner
20. Long Island University
21. San Diego State
22.Pacific
23. Brown
24. Pomona-Pitzer
25. Marist
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2024 ACWPC NATIONAL POLL
March 27: 14
March 20: T-14
March 13: 14
March 6: T-15
Feb. 28: 14
Feb. 21: 13
Feb. 14: 13
Feb. 7: 15
Jan. 31: 9
Jan. 24: 9
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
UP NEXT
UC San Diego plays another two Big West contests on the road, visiting Cal State Fullerton April 5 and UC Santa Barbara April 7.
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!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons
here.
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.
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.
