University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
2025 Men's Water Polo Roster
Roster
Vinnie Merk
- Position:
- Attacker
- Height:
- 6-3
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- High School:
- Mater Dei HS
- Hometown:
- Huntington Beach, Calif.
UCLA CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• 2-time ACWPC All-Academic selection (Superior - 2025, 2024)
• 2-time MPSF All-Academic Team member (2025, 2023)
• Big Ten Spring Academic Honor Roll member (Spring 2026)
• 8-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member (last Winter 2026)
2025
Played in 26 of 29 games … Bruins captured program’s 14th NCAA title and No. 125 for UCLA Athletics, beating top-seeded USC in 11-10 thriller (Dec. 7) … totaled 17 goals on 30 shot attempts (56.7%) … qualified for ACWPC All-Academic team, earning “superior” designation … member of MPSF All-Academic Team … earned spot on Big Ten Spring Academic Honor Roll ... recorded five multi-goal games, including two hat tricks … totaled game- and season-high four steals to help earn 36-4 win against Penn State Behrend in MPSF Championship Tournament quarterfinal round (Nov. 21) … totaled three goals in 21-5 win against California Baptist at Princeton Invitational (Sept. 5) … named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for Fall 2025, Winter 2026.
2024
Played in five of 28 games … scored three goals on eight attempts, converting at a 37.5 percent rate … scored five total points with two assists … scored a season-high two goals in a win vs. Air Force (Sept. 28) … he scored at least one goal in two of the five games he played, including one multiple-goal game … scored at least one goal in two straight games (Sept. 28 to Sept. 28) … also recorded one steal.
2023
Played in 22 of 29 games … scored six goals on 20 attempts, converting at a 30.0 percent rate … finished with 13 total points and seven assists … scored a career-high three goals in a win vs. Cal Lutheran on Sept. 10 … also registered six field blocks, six steals, and two drawn exclusions.
2022
Redshirted the season.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
Four-year letter winner at Mater Dei Catholic High School … named First-Team All-CIF, First-Team All-Trinity League … played club water polo with Vanguard … named as a Junior Olympics All-American.
PERSONAL
Full Name: Vincent Edward Merk II, prefers Vinnie … born in Newport Beach, Calif. … parents are Lonna and Vince Merk … has an older sister Reagan (20) … older sister plays volleyball at San Diego State, father played baseball at San Francisco State, and grandfather played football at University of Dayton … chose UCLA because “I’ve grown up in a UCLA fan family, love the culture of the school and was mostly attracted to the water polo culture and standards” … greatest athletic thrill is anytime playing in a championship game or in front of a big crowd … admires the late Kobe Bryant and Dénes Varga … enjoys golfing, playing video games, and hanging out with friends and family in his free time … major is political science.
| Vinnie Merk's Career Statistics | ||||||||
| Year | GP | GOALS | SHOTS | PCT | AST | STL | FB | EE |
| 2023 | 22 | 6 | 20 | .300 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 3 | 8 | .375 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 26 | 17 | 30 | .567 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| Totals | 53 | 26 | 58 | .448 | 26 | 20 | 8 | 5 |
