Anteater Update: November 3

November 3, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 15
Men's Tennis - No. 7 (CTN Preseason Mid-Major)
Hiroki Sakagawa/Rohan Sachdev - No. 77 (ITA Men's Tennis Preseason Doubles)

• Men's basketball opens the regular season against Bethesda tonight (Nov. 3) at 7:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center. UCI will celebrate the 2024-25 NIT run with a banner reveal before the starting lineup and a NIT pennant giveaway for fans. On Friday (Nov. 7), the Anteaters will face soon-to-be Big West member California Baptist at 7:30 p.m. NOTE THE 7:30 tip time.  Men's basketball was the Big West preseason pick to be No. 1 this season.

• Women's basketball is set to host the University of San Diego in their season opener on Wednesday, Nov. 5. It will be an early 11 a.m. tip-off as part of the Anteaters' annual Kids Day where local elementary schools fill the stands at the Bren Events Center.

• Men's soccer won a share of the Big West title with an entertaining 3-2 win over UC Riverside, the program's sixth Big West regular season title and third under head coach Yossi Raz. Marcus Lee scored twice in the second half to break a halftime tie. With the share of the title and three-way tie for first place, tiebreakers played out with the Anteaters earning the No. 2 seed and a bye to the Big West Semifinal. The 'Eaters will host the semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 6:00 p.m. against the winner of Cal Poly vs. UC San Diego in the Big West First Round.

• Women's soccer opened the week with a 2-0 win at Hawai'i thanks to goals from Mia Colombini putting her atop the Big West in goal scoring and Kelsey Swyney, her first career goal and point. The team's season would end on Sunday hosting UC Santa Barbara in the Big West First Round match with a 1-0 defeat. 

• All-Big West awards were announced following the regular season finale with Mia Colombini leading the way with Big West Midfielder of the Year honors, the second in program history. UCI also earned 10 spots on All-Big West teams to lead the conference. Colombini and Suus de Bakker were named to the First Team in addition to seven honorable mention - Laurynn Ziller, Ella Colombini, Ivy Williams, Mihaela Perez, Hailey Clingan, Trinity Morales, and Clara Samson. An Anteater also represented on the Big West All-Freshman Team in Fiona Shin.

• The women’s volleyball went 1-1 last week, sweeping UC San Diego and losing to Long Beach State, 0-3. Kendra Duffey led the Anteaters over the Tritons with 17 kills while middle blocker Sydnee Rowe had a career-high with 10 kills (10-0-17) to go with six total blocks (2 solo) versus The Beach. Libero Campbell Jensen moved into second all-time at UCI for digs with 1,777 and counting.

• This week, UCI entertains league-leading UC Davis Friday (Nov. 7) at 1:00 p.m. - Note 1:00 p.m. start time. The Anteaters will end the week hosting UC Riverside Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the Bren Events Center.

• Men's water polo (14-10, 2-2 Big West) dropped a pair of close games to top-15 teams last week. In their Black & Blue Rivalry Game, the Anteaters fell to No. 9 Long Beach State, 13-12. Johann Thrall tied his career high with six goals. He added four tallies in a 12-10 non-conference loss at No. 13 Pepperdine. UCI has two matches this weekend, traveling to UC San Diego on Friday, Nov. 7, before hosting San Jose State in their final regular season home game two days later (Nov. 9). The 'Eaters will recognize their six seniors on Sunday.

• UC Irvine women's cross country claimed runner-up honors at the Big West Championships in Honolulu on Friday, Oct. 31. Junior Kaia Schmidt earned All-Big West honors with a fourth-place finish, covering the 6K course in 21:13.2. It is the fifth-straight year an Anteater has garnered all-conference distinction. Sophomore Juan Chantaca led the men's team in 23rd, completing the 8K race in 25:24.9. 

• Women's tennis had a busy fall weekend hosting the UCI Fall Invitational and playing at the Jack Kramer Classic in Rolling Hills Estates with 12 Anteaters in action. As a team, UCI went 14-4 in singles action at the UCI Fall Invitational with 3-0 weekends from Bella Pitchford, Mackenzie Lukin, and Ani Vanetsyan along with a flawless 9-0 record in doubles matches. At the Jack Kramer Classic, the quartet of Amanda Perez, Carolyna Fowler, Yen Nhi Huynh, and Haily Huynh competed against opponents from USC, UCLA, Fresno State, LMU, and Boise State to a 6-6 singles record. Perez went a 3-0 in her matches at No. 1. Huynh and Huynh came together for a 2-0 doubles record as UCI went 3-1 overall in doubles. The program wraps up with one final split squad weekend from Nov. 7-9 competing in tournaments at CSUN and Pomona-Pitzer.

• Men's tennis is back in action this week at the ITA Sectional Championships (Nov. 6-9), and the LMU Fall Invitational (Nov. 7-9).

October 27, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 16
Men's Tennis - No. 7 (CTN Preseason Mid-Major)
Hiroki Sakagawa/Rohan Sachdev - No. 77 (ITA Men's Tennis Preseason Doubles)

• Men's basketball will play its final exhibition game against 12th-ranked UCLA in Pauley Pavilion Tuesday (Oct. 28) before the first regular season game on November 3 in the Bren Events Center against Bethesda University.

• Men's soccer clinched a Big West Championship berth after a week where they won at home over UC Davis and drew on the road at UC Santa Barbara. Gage Lyons scored twice including the game-winner Wednesday to defeat UC Davis, 2-1, and Joe O'Shaughnessy made five saves for his seventh shutout Saturday in a scoreless draw. With one match remaining in the regular season, UCI is locked into a top-4 spot in the Big West standings guaranteeing to host a postseason match next week. UCI still has sights set on a Big West regular season title just two points behind Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara with a chance to leap over or draw even with them Saturday night when they host UC Riverside on Senior Night kicking off at 7:00 p.m.

• Women's soccer secured a Big West Championship spot for the fifth straight season after draws at Cal State Fullerton, 0-0, and vs. UC San Diego, 1-1, last week. One match remains on Thursday with a trip to play Hawai'i kicking off at 9:00 p.m. A UC Irvine win could land them a home match in the Big West First Round which kicks off Sunday, November 2

• The women’s volleyball team made quick work of Hawaii and Cal State Fullerton last week, sweeping both opponents, 3-0. It is the third consecutive victory against the Rainbow Wahine and fourth all-time.

• The Anteaters hit .317 versus Hawaii, the best hitting percentage this season then posted a .282 clip versus the Titans which was tied for the third best mark this season. The squad was as good on defense as offense, recording 11 blocks in each match. Nicole Feliciano was named Big West Setter of the Week, while libero Campbell Jensen was honored as Big West Defensive Player of the Week.

• The 16th-ranked men's water polo team (14-8, 2-1 Big West) won its second-straight Big West contest, defeating Cal State Fullerton on the road, 15-7. Johann Thrall led the offense with four goals, while goalkeeper Zayd Mahmoud finished with a season-high 13 saves. The Anteaters have a key conference match-up on Thursday, Oct. 30, when they host Big West-leading Long Beach State (13-8, 3-0 Big West) in a Black & Blue Rivalry game. UCI will also head to Malibu for a non-conference showdown at No. 9 Pepperdine on Saturday.

• The Big West Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship is slated for Friday morning at Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park in Honolulu. The men kick things off with the 8K race at 7:30 a.m. HT/10:30 a.m. PT, while the women follow with the 6K at 8:30 a.m. HT/11:30 a.m. PT. Juan Chantaca and Kaia Schmidt have both been named the Big West Athlete of the Week twice this season. Chantaca broke the 8K school record with a time of 23:38.4 at the UCR Invitational. At the same meet, Schmidt clocked UCI's eighth-fastest 6K at 20:38.4.

• Women's tennis makes their home debut this week, hosting the UCI Fall Invitational, Oct. 30-Nov. 1. The Anteaters will square off against UC Riverside, Biola, and Cal State Los Angeles in a hidden dual format.

• Men's golf starts their final tournament of the fall season in Lahaina, Maui. Rei Harashima, Owen Davis-Piger, Jason Tang, Tommy Lin, and Kody Li comprise UCI's 5-count-4 lineup that is part of a competitive field at the Ka'anapali Classic (Oct. 27-29) that features 10 teams ranked among the top-100 in the nation.

October 20, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 16
Men's Tennis - No. 7 (CTN Preseason Mid-Major)
Hiroki Sakagawa/Rohan Sachdev - No. 77 (ITA Men's Tennis Preseason Doubles)

• Men's basketball started their 2025-26 season with an exhibition game Sunday welcoming in Big XII foe Arizona State. Derin Saran led a second-half comeback with 27 points and 11 rebounds as the ‘Eaters took the lead with 3:26 left in the game and never looked back for a 72-68 victory in the Bren Events Center. Still ahead of coach Turner’s crew is one final exhibition match-up in Pauley Pavilion against the 12th-ranked UCLA Bruins coming up on October 28 before the first regular season game on November 3 in the Bren against Bethesda University.

• Men's soccer jumped right back into the Big West race with two shutout victories - 1-0 at home over CSUN and 3-0 up at Sacramento State. Joe O'Shaughnessy was in net for each scoring his fifth and sixth shutout of the season needing only two saves. Misael Gonzalez Lopez kicked in his team-high sixth goal for the game-winner Wednesday, and Cristian Gallo scored his first career goal as the game-winner Saturday adding all goals by freshman Zac Smuck and senior Agaton Pourshahidi in the win. Another pivotal week awaits with UC Irvine hosting UC Davis Wednesday before a trip to UC Santa Barbara Saturday with postseason hopes on the horizon and the quest for a regular season title still in reach

• Women's soccer took two Big West title contenders at home last week splitting their meetings. The week began Thursday with a 2-0 win over conference leaders UC Santa Barbara on goals from fifth-year defenders Mihaela Perez and Suus de Bakker. Sunday was a 2-1 loss to Cal Poly setting the 'Eaters back as Cal Poly hurdled UCI in the standings. UC Irvine is 4-2-1 with 13 points sitting in a tie for third in the Big West as they battle with fellow third-place squad Cal State Fullerton Thursday on the road before the regular season home finale Sunday afternoon against UC San Diego

•  Women’s golf completed the Fall schedule with a third place finish at the Golf Iconic Classic, posting a three-day score of 859 (284-279-296). The 54-hole score of 859 ranks third best in the UCI record book, while the second round total of 279 is a new school record. The Anteaters had three players in the Top 15: Katelyn Kong (T8th), Jenny Chang (T13) and Katherine Gerbing (T15). 

• The 16th-ranked men's water polo team (13-8, 1-1 Big West) upset No. 10 UC Santa Barbara on the road, 10-9, for their first Big West victory of the season. Ethan Spoon broke an 8-8 tie in the fourth quarter, while Cole Francisco widened the lead at 10-8 with 3:29 remaining. UCI locked down defensively, allowing just one goal the rest of the way for the win. The Anteaters continue conference action with one game this week as they make the short trip to Cal State Fullerton for a 6 p.m. showdown on Friday, Oct. 24.

•  Women’s volleyball will play a pair of important matches this week, hosting Hawaii Tuesday (Oct. 21) at the Bren Events Center before traveling to Cal State Fullerton Thursday (Oct. 23) at Titan Gym. Both matches begin at 6:00 p.m. This will be the lone match of the season against Hawaii and the last in the regular season as the Rainbow Wahine will play in the Mountain West Conference next year.

• Senior Nicole Contreras led six UC Irvine women's cross country runners at the Highlander Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 18. Contreras finished 12th out of 258 with an 18-second personal-record 20:53.2. It was the Anteaters' third-fastest 6K of the season. UCI is idle this week before heading to Honolulu for the Big West Championships next Friday, Oct. 31.

• Men's tennis had a strong showing at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships in Tempe, Arizona, Oct. 16-19. Mason Bui and Nathaniel Suh highlighted doubles action as they advanced to the Round of 16. The Anteater duo won their first two matches, including an upset of Pepperdine's seventh-seeded pairing. In singles,  UCI had three individuals make it out of qualifying into the main draw where they joined teammates Hiroki Sakagawa and Tal Goodman. 

• Women's tennis competed at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships and Triton Invitational in San Diego last week (Oct. 16-18). The Anteaters were dominant at the Triton Invitational where they went 10-1 in singles and 7-3 in doubles. They will be off this weekend before hosting the UCI Fall Invitational, Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

• Men's golf had a season-best ninth-place finish at the Oregon State Invitational, Oct. 14-15. Rei Harashima and Jason Tang led the way in a tie for 21st.
 

October 14, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 19
Men's Tennis - No. 7 (CTN Preseason Mid-Major)
Hiroki Sakagawa/Rohan Sachdev - No. 77 (ITA Men's Tennis Preseason Doubles)

• Men's basketball started their 2025-26 season with an exhibition game Sunday welcoming in Big XII foe Arizona State. Derin Saran led a second-half comeback with 27 points and 11 rebounds as the ‘Eaters took the lead with 3:26 left in the game and never looked back for a 72-68 victory in the Bren Events Center. Still ahead of coach Turner’s crew is one final exhibition match-up in Pauley Pavilion against the 12th-ranked UCLA Bruins coming up on October 28 before the first regular season game on November 3 in the Bren against Bethesda University.

• Women's soccer enjoyed a week off and is revitalized heading into a big week in Anteater Stadium. UCI hosts last year's Big West Championship winners UC Santa Barbara Thursday night as they currently sit in a tie for first place. Saturday, the ‘Eaters welcome in Cal Poly who is tied with the them in third place. UC Irvine entered their bye week on 10 points tied for first place, and now return to action just one point behind the Big West leaders with five matches left in the regular season holding an overall record of 6-3-5

• Men's soccer set a program record with two more ties last week for a UC Irvine record four consecutive ties. The ‘Eaters are 5-3-5 overall as they head into a Wednesday night matchup with CSUN in Anteater Stadium before embarking on a Northern California trip to Sacramento State on Saturday. UCI has four points through four Big West matches looking to climb the Big West standings with five matches to go.

•  Women’s golf posted a school record score of 279 on the second round of the Golf Iconic Classic on the New Mexico State Golf Course. The score betters the former mark of 282 set in 2021 on the first round of the Big West Championship. Sophomores HaYoung Lee and Katherine Gerbing led the Anteaters with a 68 and 69 respectively. 

• The 19th-ranked men's water polo team (12-7, 0-1 Big West) dropped its Big West opener to No. 9 UC Davis, 15-12, last Friday. It was the Anteaters' first regular-season conference loss since Oct. 13, 2023. UCI is back at Anteater Aquatics Complex on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when it hosts No. 13 Princeton at 6 p.m. The 'Eaters will then resume Big West action at No. 12 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Oct. 18.

• Junior Kaia Schmidt was named the Big West Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week after leading the Anteaters at the Bill Dellinger Invitational on Friday, Oct. 10. Schmidt placed among the top-15 in a competitive field that featured seven regionally-ranked teams. For the second meet in a row, she was the top Big West finisher, coming in fourth with a time of 20:43.97. Six UCI women will be in action this Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Highlander Invitational in Riverside.

•  Women’s volleyball heads to the central coast this weekend, visiting Cal Poly Friday (Oct. 17) and UC Santa Barbara Saturday (Oct. 18). UCI had four players with double-digit kills in a 3-1 win over CSUN with three collecting career-highs. Senior Kendra Duffey led the Anteaters with a career-tying 18 kills followed by career-bests by middle blocker Ally Bolden (13) and Madison Triplett (11). 

• Men's tennis continues its fall tournament season with a trip to Tempe, Arizona, for the ITA Southwest Regional Championships, Oct. 16-21. The two singles finalists and the doubles champion will punch their ticket to the NCAA Individual Championships.

• Women's tennis will also be in action at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships in San Diego (Oct. 16-21) and the Triton Invitational in La Jolla (Oct. 16-18) this week. The two singles finalists and the doubles champion from the regional event will punch their ticket to the NCAA Individual Championships.

• Men's golf is part of the 15-team field at the Oregon State Invitational (Oct. 14-15). The Anteaters will be looking to defend their team title after winning the event last year.

• Women’s golf is competing at the Marilyn Smith Sunflower Invitational Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 6-7) at the Lawrence Country Club in Lawrence, Kansas.

• Last week, UCI finished in a tie for third at the Molly Collegiate Invitational with a score 887 (296-298-293).  The Anteaters’ 293, the lowest score on the final round led by Katherine Gerbing’s 70. Katelyn Kong was the top Anteater finishing fourth with a 54-hole total of 218 (73-72-73).

October 6, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 13
Men's Tennis - No. 7 (CTN Preseason Mid-Major)
Hiroki Sakagawa/Rohan Sachdev - No. 77 (ITA Men's Tennis Preseason Doubles)

• Women's soccer scored a win and draw in two Big West matches taking four total points. Through five conference matches, the Anteaters are tied for first place in the Big West earning 10 out of 15 possible points. UCI got a two-goal game from fifth-year defender Suus de Bakker en route to a 2-0 Thursday night win over UC Davis. Sunday night at Black and Blue rival Long Beach State ended in a 1-1 draw from a Mia Colombini equalizer in the 28th minute, her team-leading fifth goal of the season. The Anteaters are off all week as the Big West churns around them with the next action home matches October 16 vs. UC Santa Barbara and October 19 vs. Cal Poly

• Men's soccer began Big West season last week with a pair of matches in Anteater Stadium both playing out in 1-1 ties against UC San Diego and Cal Poly. Misael Gonzalez Lopez buried his Big West-leading fifth goal just before halftime Wednesday for the lead as UCI gave up an own goal in the second half to UCSD. Saturday's match saw UCI fall behind on a penalty kick, but Agaton Pourshahidi's equalizer later in the first half drew the match level against last year's Big West regular season champions, Cal Poly. Up next is a road week for the 'Eaters that find themselves with some catch-up earning just two points to start conference play. UCI will be at Cal State Bakersfield Wednesday for a 10:30 a.m. kickoff against the 2-0 Roadrunners, and the week closes Saturday night at rival Cal State Fullerton for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

• The 13th-ranked men's water polo team (12-6) split a pair of games last Friday, Oct. 3, at the Gary Troyer Invitational in Claremont. The Anteaters started the day with a 21-10 win over Wagner. Wyley Dale scored a career-high six goals, while Jack Stevens added a career-best five. Johann Thrall also notched three goals and four assists. Zayd Mahmoud anchored the defensive effort with 11 saves. In their second game, the 'Eaters fell to tournament host and 19th-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 12-11. UCI returns to Anteater Aquatics Complex to host UC Davis in its Big West opener at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10.

• Women’s volleyball hosts two matches this week at the Bren Events Center. The Anteaters will entertain CSU Bakersfield Friday at 6:00 p.m. then CSUN on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

• Senior Campbell Jensen averaged an amazing 7.29 digs per set last week. After starting the week with 21 digs versus UC Riverside, Jensen had a season-high 30 digs against UC Davis, which are currently tied for 14th most in the country in a four-set match.

• Men's tennis opened their fall tournament season at the Big West Fall Invite last week. Max Fardanesh defeated UC Santa Barbara's Diogo Morais, who was 122nd in the final 2025 ITA Singles Rankings, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the quarterfinals. Fardanesh dropped the first set and was down 6-5 (40-0) before saving four match points to break serve and force a tiebreaker. He came up short in the semifinals then won the third-place match. Sohrob Amiryavari also made it to the quarterfinals, and ended up taking sixth overall. Fardanesh/Ruining Huang went 2-1 in doubles, falling in the semis.

• Women's tennis kicked off their fall tournament season at the Big West Fall Selection Event in La Jolla. Haily Huynh, Carolyna Fowler, and Maily Huynh all won their Round of 64 singles matches in the main draw. Quin Brady/Amanda Perez and Yen Nhi Huynh/Maily Huynh also advanced to the Round of 16 in doubles.

• Men's and women's cross country head to Springfield, Oregon, for the Bill Dellinger Invitational on Friday, Oct. 10. Juan Chantaca and Kaia Schmidt swept the Big West Cross Country Athlete of the Week awards after their last outing at the UCR Invitational (Sept. 27).

• Men's golf is back in action at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational, Oct. 9-11.

• Women’s golf is competing at the Marilyn Smith Sunflower Invitational Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 6-7) at the Lawrence Country Club in Lawrence, Kansas.

• Last week, UCI finished in a tie for third at the Molly Collegiate Invitational with a score 887 (296-298-293).  The Anteaters’ 293, the lowest score on the final round led by Katherine Gerbing’s 70. Katelyn Kong was the top Anteater finishing fourth with a 54-hole total of 218 (73-72-73).

September 29, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Water Polo - No. 15
Men's Soccer - Receiving Votes

• Women's soccer went 1-1 last week as Big West play continued on. The week closed on a 1-0 victory at Cal State Bakersfield to hand them their first home loss thanks to a great play by Trinity Morales setting up Mia Colombini's goal in the 17th minute, and Laurynn Ziller stopping two shots for the team's six shutout of the season. UCI is up to six points in three Big West matches currently putting them in second place in the standings. Another challenge week ahead with UCI hosting UC Davis Thursday night in Anteater Stadium before a trip to Long Beach State for a rivalry matchup Sunday, October 5

• Men's soccer finished non-conference play last week with a record of 5-3-1. The ‘Eaters are led by the defense and Joe O’Shaughnessy in goal and his 0.82 goals-against-average. On the agenda is a week in Anteater Stadium hosting UC San Diego Wednesday, October 1, followed by a Saturday night meeting with the defending Big West champions Cal Poly in Anteater Stadium.

• The 15th-ranked men's water polo team went 4-0 at The Joust in Riverside, defeating Concordia (17-10), No. 14 California Baptist (17-11), Occidental College (23-7), and Biola (16-7). Sophomore Ethan Spoon led the Anteaters to a season-high 23 goals with a career-best six tallies against Oxy. This week, the 'Eaters will head to Claremont for two games at the Gary Troyer Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3. It will be their final tune-up before their Big West opener.

• Women’s Volleyball is on the road this week, traveling to UC Riverside Thursday (Oct. 2) at 5:00 p.m. then on to UC Davis Saturday (Oct. 4) at 1:00 p.m. 

• The Anteaters (5-8, 0-2) recorded a Big West season-high tying 18 blocks versus UC San Diego last Saturday. Freshman Abby Pekrul and graduate student Sydnee Rowe each totaled a career-high seven total blocks against the Tritons.

• Sophomore Juan Chantaca ran an 8K school-record 23:38.4 to finish fourth out of 224 at the UCR Invitational. Chantaca, who improved his PR by 13 seconds, beat UC Irvine's previous standard of 23:47.0. Juniors Kaia Schmidt and Emma Hadley led the Anteater women to a third-place showing in the UCR Invitational 6K. Schmidt came in seventh in a personal-record 20:38.4, while Hadley was 11th (20:47.6). Schmidt moved up one spot to No. 8 in program history, while Hadley's time ranks 10th among UCI's all-time leaders.

• Men's golf kicks off the season this week at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30. The fall tournament season for men's and women's tennis also starts with the Big West Fall Qualifier, Oct. 2-5. The Anteater men have individuals set to compete at the San Diego Veterans Tennis Classic (Oct. 3-5) as well.

• Women's golf competes at the Molly Collegiate Invitational Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 29-30) at the Trysting Tree Golf Golf Course in Corvallis, Ore.

• The Anteaters opened the season in a tie for 7th place at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic. Graduate student Jenny Chang had a career-low 69 on the second round and led UCI finishing in a tie for 25th place (217).

September 15, 2025

National Rankings
Men's Soccer - No. 22
Men's Water Polo - No. 8

• UC Irvine men's soccer has started the season out hot with five wins and one tie in their six-match stretch in Anteater Stadium including wins over UCLA (2-0), Cornell (1-0), Yale (1-0), and North Florida (3-0). The run has vaulted the ‘Eaters into the national rankings for the first time since 2019 at No. 22 as of last week. UCI has claimed a pair of weekly awards as well with Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors going to redshirt junior Isaac Powell and senior Misael Gonzalez Lopez. Gonzalez Lopez has netted four goals to lead the team in goals and points as the Anteaters' 12 goals are tops in the Big West. The Anteaters’ strength has been its defense allowing one goal through its first six matches led by sophomore goalkeeper Joe O'Shaughnessy helping in all five shutout wins.

• Women's soccer scoring a big win to close out non-conference play Sunday topping Washington State, 2-0. Clara Samson scored the game-winner right out of the halftime break and fifth-year senior Suus de Bakker headed home the dagger in the 82nd minute. UCI's stern defense has carried them to a 3-2-4 mark through the first half of the season allowing a grand total of four goals while earning wins over programs like Grand Canyon and San Francisco and drawing with Washington, Northern Arizona, and San Diego.

• The eighth-ranked men's water polo team is 6-2 after No. 1 UCLA and No. 2 USC handed UC Irvine its first two losses of the season last week. The Anteaters head to the MPSF Invitational this weekend, which will be held at UCLA's Spieker Aquatics Center and USC's Uytengsu Aquatics Center, Sept. 19-21. Senior Luka Krstic leads the UCI offense with a team-high 15 goals on the season, while senior Zayd Mahmoud has seen most of the action in the cage, compiling 51 saves and an 11.20 goals against average.

• Redshirt freshman women's volleyball player Jessica Bates made her season debut last weekend at Oregon State’s Asics Invitational and was impressive in UCI’s victory over Montana State doing what only a handful of players in the NCAA have done this season - posting a triple-double. She recorded a career-high 13 kills and 10 digs to go with 11 set assists. Bates is the first Big West player to record the feat since Nov. 11, 2023.

The team remains on the road for a three-match swing in Nashville, Tenn. The Anteaters will take on Lipscomb Thursday (Sept. 17), Vanderbilt on Friday (Sept. 18) and Belmont on Saturday (Sept. 20) before opening Big West play hosting Long Beach State at the Bren Events Center Sept. 26.

• Men's and women's cross country are idle this week after opening the season with victories at the Vanguard Invitational on Sept. 6. The Anteater women took home the team title with a perfect score of 15 points. Sophomore Liana Lee led the way, winning the 5K in a personal and meet-record 17:43.4. On the men's side, sophomore Juan Chantaca led the ‘Eaters to their first team victory since 2017. Chantaca finished ahead of the pack in an 8K meet-record 24:05.8. He was named the Big West Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Sept. 9.