UCI Kicks Off Barbara Kalbus Invitational With No. 8/8 Michigan
February 21, 2024 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. – UC Irvine women's water polo opens the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a rematch of No. 8/8 Michigan on Friday (Feb. 23) afternoon.
Week Five Notes | Tournament Central | Tickets
GAME SCHEDULE
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. No. 8/8 Michigan
Friday, February 23 | 2:30 PM | Anteater Aquatics Complex
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Saturday, February 24 | TBA | TBA
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Saturday, February 24 | TBA | TBA
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Sunday, February 25 | TBA | TBA
THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
> UC Irvine enters the week at the tenth ranked spot in the weekly CWPA poll
> UCI comes in ranked ninth in the inaugural ACWPC weekly poll
> The Anteaters kick off the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a rematch against No. 8/8 Michigan
> The two teams last met in the Triton Invitational just three weeks prior where the Wolverines won, 13-12
> The last seven games between the two squads have been decided by one point or less
> No. 8/8 Michigan heads into the contest with a 9-5 record and have won three straight contests
> The Wolverines went a perfect 3-0 at the Indiana Classic where they defeated Salem (17-1), Iona (19-9), and California Baptist (17-9)
> No. 8/8 Michigan is paced offensively by senior attacker Kata Utassy with a team high 30 goals and 18 assists
> Libby Alsemgeest is next up in the goal scoring with her 22 goals and has drawn a team best 60 exclusions
> Alex Brown has played 13 games in the cage for Michigan where she has saved 76 (0.507) of the shots she has faced
> No. 1/1 UCLA and Cal State Fullerton round out the Group A bracket that includes the Wolverines and the Anteaters
> UCI will play either the Bruins or Titans in the first game of the day on Saturday (Feb. 24) dependent on Friday afternoon's results
NOTES
> UC Irvine fell to No. 5/6 USC in the Anteaters home opener, 10-7
> UCI out shot UCLA 32-29
> Senior Jensine Bugelli was the only UCI player to score multiple goals with two
> Libby Alexander, Brooke Hourigan, Madi O'Hara, Lauren Hett, and Sara Naulty rounded out the scoring
> Four different Anteaters were credited with an assist
> Senior Faith Tedesco played in net stopping eight shots
> Kili Skibby drew a team best four exclusions
> Skibby also stole the ball a game best three times
> Airian Grisham and Gracie Helberg tallied two steals each
> Tedesco ranks third in the Big West in both total saves (73) and save percentage (0.456) and fourth in goals against average (9.41)
Week Five Notes | Tournament Central | Tickets
GAME SCHEDULE
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. No. 8/8 Michigan
Friday, February 23 | 2:30 PM | Anteater Aquatics Complex
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Saturday, February 24 | TBA | TBA
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Saturday, February 24 | TBA | TBA
No. 10/9 UC Irvine vs. TBA
Sunday, February 25 | TBA | TBA
THIS WEEK'S STORYLINES
> UC Irvine enters the week at the tenth ranked spot in the weekly CWPA poll
> UCI comes in ranked ninth in the inaugural ACWPC weekly poll
> The Anteaters kick off the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a rematch against No. 8/8 Michigan
> The two teams last met in the Triton Invitational just three weeks prior where the Wolverines won, 13-12
> The last seven games between the two squads have been decided by one point or less
> No. 8/8 Michigan heads into the contest with a 9-5 record and have won three straight contests
> The Wolverines went a perfect 3-0 at the Indiana Classic where they defeated Salem (17-1), Iona (19-9), and California Baptist (17-9)
> No. 8/8 Michigan is paced offensively by senior attacker Kata Utassy with a team high 30 goals and 18 assists
> Libby Alsemgeest is next up in the goal scoring with her 22 goals and has drawn a team best 60 exclusions
> Alex Brown has played 13 games in the cage for Michigan where she has saved 76 (0.507) of the shots she has faced
> No. 1/1 UCLA and Cal State Fullerton round out the Group A bracket that includes the Wolverines and the Anteaters
> UCI will play either the Bruins or Titans in the first game of the day on Saturday (Feb. 24) dependent on Friday afternoon's results
NOTES
> UC Irvine fell to No. 5/6 USC in the Anteaters home opener, 10-7
> UCI out shot UCLA 32-29
> Senior Jensine Bugelli was the only UCI player to score multiple goals with two
> Libby Alexander, Brooke Hourigan, Madi O'Hara, Lauren Hett, and Sara Naulty rounded out the scoring
> Four different Anteaters were credited with an assist
> Senior Faith Tedesco played in net stopping eight shots
> Kili Skibby drew a team best four exclusions
> Skibby also stole the ball a game best three times
> Airian Grisham and Gracie Helberg tallied two steals each
> Tedesco ranks third in the Big West in both total saves (73) and save percentage (0.456) and fourth in goals against average (9.41)
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, May 13
Monday, April 20
Saturday, April 11
Monday, March 23


















