FOLLOW ALONG
Saturday, Feb, 1
No.  13 San Jose State Spartans (3-4) vs.  No. 5 UC Irvine Anteaters (4-2)
10:15 AM – Sunset Recreation Center – Los Angeles, Calif.

No. 12 Fresno State Bulldogs (2-4) vs. No. 5 UC Irvine Anteaters (4-2)
4:00 PM – Spieker Aquatics Complex – Los Angeles, Calif.


Weekend Storylines

• UCI earned its highest ranking in program history coming in at No. 3 in the first Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Association (CWPA) National Poll of the season. The 'Eaters began the season ranked No. 5 nationally, tying the 2016 team for the highest rank to open a season
• After finishing 2-2 last weekend UCI slipped to No. 5 in this week's national ranking
• Head coach Dan Klatt reached his 300^th career win with UCI's 14-6 victory over Fresno State last Sunday. He is in his 16^th season at UCI
• UCI's previous highest ranking was No. 4 after the 2012 season
• UCI opened the 2020 season with a 12-7 upset win over fourth-ranked Cal. It marked just the second time, and first since 2005, the Anteaters have beaten the Bears
• The Anteaters will face SJSU and FSU for the second time in a week as UCI won games against both teams at the Cal Cup last weekend
• The Anteaters are 14-6 in season openers including wins in three of their last four
• Tara Prentice was named the Big West Player of the week for the third time in her career after leading the Anteaters with 12 goals at the Cal Cup including a career-tying five goal performance against Cal

About the Spartans

• No.  13 SJSU is 3-4 after finishing 2-2 last weekend at the Cal Cup. The Spartans upset No. 6 Cal, 9-8, and earned a 7-6 win over No. 13 Fresno State
• UCI defeated SJSU, 14-6, last Saturday
• UCI is 11-11 all-time against the Spartans
• Olga Descalzi Portell leads SJSU with 14 goals while Hannah Henry has 36 saves in the cage

About the Bulldogs

• Fresno State is 2-4 on the season with a recent win over UC Davis, 14-13, at the Cal Cup
• UCI and FSU met for the first time ever last weekend as the 'Eaters won a decisive 14-8 victory

Cal Cup Recap

• UCI finished the weekend 2-2 with wins over San Jose State and Fresno State and losses to Cal and Stanford
• The Anteaters dropped a one-point, 12-11, decision to No. 6 Cal. Tara Prentice tied a career high five goals in the loss while Morgan Jones made 13 saves in goal
• UCI rebounded to defeat SJSU, 14-6. Piper Smith led the 'Eaters with four goals
• The Anteaters led No. 2 Stanford after the first quarter but slipped to the Cardinal, 10-9. Prentice led the 'Eaters with two goals
• UCI capped the weekend with a 14-8 win over Fresno State. Smith matched a career best five goals in the win

Roster Sneak Peak
"We only lost three seniors last year so our roster is fairly consistent with what it was in 2019. With the improvement of our returning players plus the addition of the newcomers, I am really excited for the roster we have."
 
Senior two time All-American Tara Prentice returns as UCI's leading scorer after posting 70 goals, the second most in a season in program history. She also finished with 24 steals and 11 assists. Sophomore All-Conference selection Piper Smith will look to have a breakout season after finishing third on the team a year ago with 40 goals and 15 steals.
 
Second team All-Conference goalkeeper Morgan Jones returns as UCI's starting goalie. In 2019 she started 26 games tallying 172 saves. She finished with a 6.15 goals against average.
 
The 'Eaters will look to fill the hole left by four time All-American Mary Brooks who ended her career as the 7^th leading scorer all-time in the Big West.

UCI will get senior leadership from Prentice, Delayne Lynton, Jolene Viramontes and Marissa Echelberger.
 
Fresh Face, Our Place
UCI brings in eight freshmen and one transfer for the 2020 season. Camila Rosas comes to Irvine from Long Beach City College where she was named an All-South Coast Conference first-team selection last season.
 
The eight true freshman include Portia Schiavone, Kili Skibby, Maeve Murphy, Elena Flynn, Jensine Bugelli, Jessica Lynch, Airian Grisham, Mica Schiavone and Sydney Milham
 
Anteater Staff Breakdown
Head coach Dan Klatt returns for his 16^th season at the helm and stands four wins away from 300, with 296 career wins at UCI.
 
New to the staff this season are 2019 UCI graduates Mary Brooks and Jenna Phreaner who will serve as assistant coaches.
 
Associate head coach Andrew Rowe returns for his 12^th season with the 'Eaters.

UP NEXT
UCI heads to La Jolla to compete in the Triton Invitational Feb. 8-9. The Anteaters play Santa Clara in their first game Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10:40 a.m.