THIS WEEK
No. 6 UC Irvine at No. 24 Cal Baptist · Saturday, Jan. 28 · 11:30 a.m. · Lancer Aquatics Center
Live Stats Video
No. 6 UC Irvine vs No. 23 CSU Bakersfield · Saturday, Jan. 28 · 4:30 p.m. · Lancer Aquatics Center
Live Stats
READY, SET, GO
Sixth-ranked UC Irvine opens the 2017 season at the Cal Baptist Mini Tournament Saturday (Jan. 28) at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
The Anteaters will take on the host Lancers at 11:30 a.m. then face CSU Bakersfield at 4:30 p.m.
Both No. 24 CBU and No. 23 Bakersfield are 1-3 overall after playing the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invite last weekend.
Loyola Marymount, Whittier, USC, Concordia and Pomona-Pitzer will also be in action at Cal Baptist on Saturday.
REWIND
The Anteaters finished 2016 with a 19-11 overall record and were eighth in the final Collegiate Water Polo Association Poll.
UCI finished in third place at the Big West Tournament last season, falling to UC Santa Barbara in the semifinals in a four overtime contest.
HONOREES RETURN
UCI returns three conference honorees from last year's squad, including Big West Player of the Year Mary Brooks.
Brooks, who also earned All-American honors, had a team-leading 55 goals which was third-best in the conference and 11th most in a season for an Anteater.
Gabby Pierandozzi was named to the All-Big West second team after finishing second on the team with 29 goals.
Goalkeeper Annika Nelson earned All-Big West honorable mention accolades. Nelson allowed just 113 goals with a 5.65 average per game to lead the Big West.
REDSHIRTS REJOIN THE ROSTER
Seniors McKenna Mitchell, Kelsey Thornton and Cambria Shockley return to the roster after redshirting last season.
Mitchell was named an ACWPC All-American honorable mention in 2015 after recording 47 goals.
Entering their final season, Shockley has 62 career goals, while Thornton has 33.
MORE SOLID SENIORS
UCI is bolstered by two more seniors, Tess de Lange and Mackenzie Milham.
Milham has posted 35 goals in her career and de Lange has added three.
NEW FACES
A pair of freshman, Delayne Lynton and Marissa Echelberger, join the squad in 2017.
Lynton was the CIF Division 2 Player of the Year at Murrietta Valley High School. She was the Southwestern League's Most Valuable Player after totaling 62 goals, 60 steals and 53 assists as a senior.
Echelberger was tabbed an USAWP All-American as a junior and senior at San Clemente High School. Her team was CIF-SS Division II finalist in 2015 and semifinalist in 2016.
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