The UC Irvine women's water polo team successfully completed an abbreviated 2021 season in an unprecedented campaign.

BACK IN THE POOL
 After an abrupt end to its 2020 season, the Anteaters safely returned to action almost 11 months later when they were the first women's water polo team to host a game, entertaining California Baptist on Feb. 6.

UCI completed its shortened season with a 12-8 overall record and a 2-2 mark in Big West action. The Anteaters advanced to the Championship Game of the 2021 Big West Tournament before falling to No. 1 seed Hawai'i, 9-8. UCI entered the BWT as the No. 3 seed and upended No. 2 seed and host UC San Diego, 12-11, in the semifinals.
In conference action, UCI would get wins against Long Beach State, 10-2, and UCSD, 12-9. The Anteaters played the Tritons on five occasions, winning every contest.

IN THE RANKINGS
UCI earned a No. 4 preseason national ranking by the CWPA, marking the highest rank in program history to open a season. The Anteaters concluded the year with a No. 7 ranking.

FINAL STAT LEADERS
Goals: Piper Smith (26)
Points: Smith (34)
Assists: Toni Shackelford (14)
Steals: Smith (11), Nichols (11)
Saves: Morgan Jones (142)
Sprints: Smith (29-10)

BIG WEST ACCOLADES
UCI landed six played on the Big West All-Conference teams. Senior Morgan Jones and sophomore Piper Smith were named to the first team while senior Megan Falcon and junior Sarah Nichols earned spots on the second team. Jessica Lynch earned an honorable mention accolade while Kili Skibby landed on the All-Freshman team.
Jones was second in the conference with 142 saves. She started 16 games in goal and grabbed 21 steals. Jones wrapped up her Anteater career ranked fourth all-time with 543 saves.

UCI earned five Big West Player of the Week honors throughout the season. Jones was named twice while Smith, Danielle Ayala and Jensine Bugelli each were named once.

ALL AMERICANS
Smith, Falcon and Jones were named ACWPC All-Americans for the 2021 season. Smith led the way, earning second team accolades while Jones and Falcon were named honorable mention selections.

Smith was named on the second team for the first time in her career after landing on the honorable mention list in 2020. Jones repeated as an honorable mention selection while Falcon earned recognition for the first time in her career.

The Anteaters have had at least one All-American in 11 straight seasons.

HEAD COACH DAN KLATT
Klatt concluded his 17^th season at UCI with a 338-172 record. Klatt will represent Team USA women's water polo at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics as an assistant coach. It marks the third-consecutive Olympics he will be on the sideline coaching and fourth overall after competing in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

LOOKING AHEAD
Next season, UCI will welcome back two of its top scorers from 2020 in three time All-American Tara Prentice and Elena Flynn. Both players redshirted in 2021. Additional redshirts returning to the mix are Brooke Banta and Airian Grisham.

UCI will lose nine Anteaters to graduation including starting goalkeeper and All-American Morgan Jones.