Jan. 19, 2015
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State is ranked 15th in the preseason Collegiate Water Polo Association's Top-20 Poll. The Aztecs are one of two Golden Coast Conference schools in the rankings and the top-rated team in the league.
SDSU, which finished the 2014 campaign ranked 17th nationally, enters the season as the preseason favorite to win the GCC. The Aztecs, who went 6-0 against the Golden Coast to win the first-ever regular-season title, received 33 points and three first-place votes to earn the top spot in the GCC preseason coaches' poll.
San Diego State returns its top eight scorers from a season ago (Ioli Benekou, Caroline Israels, Anique Hermann, Alyssa Diacono, Taylor Gums, Nikole Ferarri, Carina Carballo, Claire McKinnon) and its top goalkeeper (Rachel Mitchell) from a team that finished with a 23-12 record and advanced to the GCC tournament championship game. Of the aforementioned nine Aztecs, Benekou, Diacono, Hermann and Mitchell all earned All-America honors.
SDSU will open the season on Thursday, Feb. 5, when it plays host to No. 19 Hartwick. First sprint at Aztec Aquaplex is set for 3 p.m. PT and admission is free.