SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The two-time defending NCAA champion UCLA men’s water polo team was placed atop the 2026 MPSF Men’s Water Polo Preseason Coaches’ Poll when it was released Wednesday. The Bruins collected 98 points and eight of 11 first-place votes.

USC, which has won four consecutive conference championships, earned the remaining first-place votes and 92 points to be slotted second. Stanford (83 points) and California (73) checked in at third and fourth among MPSF West teams.

Johns Hopkins was picked to pace the MPSF East, garnering 60 points. The 2025 divisional champion, Augustana, came in just shy of the top spot at 59 points. Rounding out the final five spots, in order, were Austin College (45), Connecticut College (33), Penn State Behrend (31), Washington & Jefferson (16) and Wheaton College (15).

Head coach Adam Wright’s Bruins return seven of their top eight goal scorers from a group that set a school record in the category last year with 497 (109 more than the second closest MPSF West team). UCLA outlasted top-ranked USC in the 2025 title game, with Frederico Jucá Carsalade’s buzzer beater the difference. Carsalade is one of four returning ACWPC All-America selections, joining Peter Castillo, Ryder Dodd and Ben Liechty. Dodd won the Peter J. Cutino Award and was honored as ACWPC Player of the Year in each of his first two years with the Bruins.

2026 MPSF MEN'S WATER POLO PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

MPSF West
1. UCLA - 98 (8)
2. USC - 92 (3)
3. Stanford - 83
4. California - 73

MPSF East
1. Johns Hopkins - 60
2. Augustana - 59
3. Austin College - 45
4. Connecticut College - 33
5. Penn State Behrend - 31
6. Washington & Jefferson - 16
7. Wheaton College - 15