Women's Water Polo 2026 Season Review
April 29, 2026 | Women's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine women's water polo wrapped up their 2026 season in the semifinals of the Big West Championship at Ken Lindgren Aquatics Complex in Long Beach.
Overall record: 13-14
Conference record: 4-3
Home record: 6-4
Away record: 4-4
Neutral site record: 3-6
Big West finish: 4th
Postseason: Big West Championships - Semifinals
Final national ranking: T-10th CWPA
The 2026 squad recorded 338 goals in 27 games played. Their season total ranks seventh in the program's single season history, overtaking the 327 mark set in the 2024 season. The 'Eaters also totaled 223 steals and 211 assists on the year. Additionally, four Anteaters netted 30+ goals, led by Lauren Hett with 73 and Sara Naulty with 37. Madi O'Hara (35) and Michelle Urkov (33), both reached the 30-goal club for the first time in their careers.
PERSONAL BESTS
Several Anteaters recorded career bests this season. Lauren Hett led the way, setting new single-season highs with 73 goals and 112 points, surpassing her previous marks of 67 goals and 97 points from a year ago. Sara Naulty also delivered a standout campaign, finishing with 37 goals and 29 assists, surpassing her prior best of 33 goals and 26 assists from last season. Pippa Heaver (22), Madi O'Hara (35), Deirdre Murphy (29), and Annabelle Mundelius (18) each added to the surge, recording new single-season highs in goals
WEEKLY HONORS
The 'Eaters received one Big West Player of the Week honor. Lauren Hett received her fourth career Big West weekly award on Feb. 25 after a six-point performance against UC San Diego (Feb. 20). The attacker netted four goals and dished out two assists to lead the Anteaters to their first conference win of the season.
CONFERENCE FINISH
UC Irvine finished fourth in the Big West after finishing in the top three for the past five seasons. The 'Eaters finished the conference slate with a 4-3 record.
ALL-TIME MARKS
Lauren Hett's 73 goals this season rank second all-time for single-season scoring, just one shy of the program record of 74 set by Tara Prentice (2022) and Jessy Cardey (2012). The 'Eaters also made history in the Big West Championship quarterfinals on April 10, erupting for 22 goals against UC San Diego. That total set a new program record for most goals in a conference championship game, surpassing the previous mark of 18, and tied the all-time Big West Championship game record set by Long Beach State last season. The 22 goals also stand as the sixth-highest single-game total in program history.
BEST OF THE BIG WEST
Four Anteaters received All-Big West honors. Lauren Hett landed on the All-Big West First Team, while redshirt senior Madi O'Hara and junior Sara Naulty earned spots on the All-Big West Second Team. Michelle Urkov earned an All-Freshman Team distinction.
Players Mentioned
ATTACKER
/ Women's Water Polo
ATTACKER
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DEFENDER
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CENTER
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ATTACKER
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UTILITY
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ATTACKER
/ Women's Water PoloUC Irvine Water Polo | Ted Newland Endowment & Pool Naming Project
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