No. 1 UCLA Hosts UCSB, at LBSU
November 05, 2015 | Men's Water Polo
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On Deck This Week
With two weeks left during the regular season, No. 1 UCLA (22-0, 6-0 MPSF) looks to continue its winning ways as it hosts No. 6 UC Santa Barbara (14-8, 3-4) on Friday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 p.m.under the lights for the first time this season at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. The Bruins then head to No. 8 Long Beach State (9-12, 1-5) for their final regular season road game of the year on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:00 p.m.
Series History
UCLA has won more games against this week's opponents than any other as the Bruins own a 99-17-1 record all-time against UC Santa Barbara and a 96-21-1 mark against Long Beach State. The Bruins haven't faced either team this year.
Coming Up
UCLA concludes the regular season next week with just one game. The Bruins will host No. 4 USC (17-4, 5-2) on "Senior Day" at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15 on Pac-12 Networks. While the game is sold out, there are 150 student tickets reserved for The Den.
2015 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship
Defending champion UCLA is the host institution for the 2015 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship on Dec. 5-6 at Dirks Pool at Spieker Aquatics Center. For more information on the Championship, click here. Tickets are on sale now for two-day packages for $65.00 for adults (general admission) and $35.00 for youth and students. There is also two-day packages for &75.00 for adults/youth/students (deck seating) for $75.00. To purchase tickets, click here.
MPSF Statistical Rankings
There are three Bruins in the top 25 of the latest MPSF statistical rankings in scoring, led by junior attacker Ryder Roberts at No. 5 (42 goals, 19 matches, 2.21 gpg). Junior attacker Patrick Fellner is third on the team in scoring with 30 goals (1.76 gpg), which ranks 12th in the MPSF. Sophomore Max Irving has scored eight goals in his last three games and has vaulted into second on the squad in scoring with 33 goals (1.50 gpg) which ranks 23rd in the MPSF.
Goalies Leading the Pack
While all four Bruins have spent time in the cage for UCLA this season, only junior Garrett Danner has played enough quarters to qualify for the MPSF rankings. Danner ranks second in the league in goals against average at 6.24. He is also sixth in the MPSF in saves per game (11.65 spg). The remaining three goalkeepers all have solid goals against averages this season with sophomore Elliot Ordway leading the group (2.67 gaa), followed by sophomore Aleksandar Ruzic (3.64 gaa) and freshman Alex Wolf (4.11 gaa).
True Freshmen Earn Caps
Three true freshmen have earned a cap and have already made an impact in 2015. Those newcomers include goalkeeper Alex Wolf (Huntington Beach, Calif./Huntington Beach HS), attacker Spencer Farrar (Malibu, Calif./Agoura HS) and utility Max Staresinic (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny HS). Wolf has played 26.269 quarters in goal for the Bruins and has registered 69 saves while allowing 27 goals (4.11 gaa). Farrar has notched 28 goals which is fourth on the team and he is only one of four Bruins to play in all 22 matches. He is also tied for fourth on the team in steals with 19. Staresinic has played in seven matches, starting once, and has tallied five goals, four steals and three assists.
Daboub on Fire
Senior defender Anthony Daboub is second on the team in scoring over the last eight games, tallying 16 goals in that span (2.00 gpg). He has recorded at least one goal in seven of the last eight games, including a career-high four goals in the Kap7 SoCal Invitational title victory over No. 2 USC on Oct. 11. He had only scored a total of seven goals in his first 14 game of the year. With 23 goals scored this season, it is the most in a single season for his career (had 22 his sophomore season in 2013).
Irving Picking Up His Scoring
Attacker Max Irving has scored at least one goal in each of the last eight matches, a career-best streak for the sophomore. He has also scored at least one goal in 11 of his last 12 outings, totaling 22 goals in that span (1.8 gpg). He has moved up to second on the squad in scoring with 33 goals (1.50 gpg) on the year, which currently ranks 22nd in the MPSF.
No Rust for Fuentes
Junior attacker Joey Fuentes, who played for UCLA in 17 matches in 2012, scoring 15 goals, has returned to the Bruins' squad after a two-year hiatus. He redshirted for UCLA in 2013 and was not on the team in 2014. He has been a full-time student at UCLA for the last three years. Even with the two-year lay-off, Fuentes is currently ninth on the team in scoring (15 goals) and is fifth on the squad in assists (20) in 11 matches played in 2015.
Defending Champions
UCLA won its ninth title in men's water polo in 2014 with the 9-8 win over USC on Dec. 7. It was the school's 112th NCAA Championship, which leads the nation.
National Rankings
UCLA retained its spot atop the CWPA Top 20 Poll for the seventh straight week. Below is the top 10:
| Rank | Team | Last Week | Points |
| 1 | UCLA | 1 | 100 |
| 2 (T) | California | 4 | 91 |
| 2 (T) | Pacific | 2 | 91 |
| 4 | USC | 3 | 87 |
| 5 | Stanford | 5 | 81 |
| 6 | UC Santa Barbara | 6 | 75 |
| 7 | UC Irvine | 7 | 70 |
| 8 | Long Beach State | 8 | 65 |
| 9 | Pepperdine | 9 | 60 |
| 10 (T) | UC Davis | 10 (T) | 53 |
UCLA Picked to Win MPSF
In the most decisive preseason men's water polo coaches' poll in MPSF history, the UCLA men's water polo team has been selected to finish first among 10 teams in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the conference office.
UCLA collected 78 points and eight first-place votes to headline the 2015 edition. The 12-point differential over second-place USC (66) surpassed the Trojans' previous record 10-point selection at the top of the 2008 poll.
The Bruins, who topped the annual preseason poll for the first time since 2005, are the defending NCAA Champions and finished unbeaten in the 2014 MPSF regular season.
| Rank | Team | Points (First-Place) | 2014 Record | 2014 MPSF Record (Finish) |
| 1 | UCLA | 78 (8) | 29-3 | 8-0 (1st) |
| 2 | USC | 66 | 24-7 | 6-2 (3rd) |
| 3T | California | 65 (1) | 22-7 | 4-4 (5th) |
| 3T | Stanford | 65 (1) | 26-4 | 7-1 (2nd) |
| 5 | Pacific | 44 | 14-12 | 2-6 (6th-Tie) |
| 6 | Long Beach State | 42 | 20-7 | 5-3 (4th) |
| 7 | UC Santa Barbara | 31 | 11-15 | 0-8 (9th) |
| 8 | UC Irvine | 28 | 15-14 | 2-6 (6th-Tie) |
| 9 | Pepperdine | 22 | 11-15 | 2-6 (6th-Tie) |
| 10 | San Jose State | 9 | 0-0 | First Year |
