SAN DIEGO – The No. 23-ranked San Diego State water polo team jumps into the deep end of the pool with a trip to Fullerton, Calif., this weekend for the Titan Invitational. In its opening weekend of competition of the 2024 season, the Aztecs play twice on Friday, first against Cal State Monterey Bay followed later in the day in a game versus host Cal State Fullerton. Then on Saturday SDSU opens with No. 1 Southern California and wraps up the event with a rematch against Cal State Monterey Bay. All the games will be contested at Titan Aquatics Center.
This Week
Friday, January 19
No. 23 San Diego State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay – 3 p.m. PT
No. 23 San Diego State vs. Cal State Fullerton – 7 p.m. PT
Saturday, January 20
No. 23 San Diego State vs. No. 1 Southern California– 9 a.m. PT
No. 23 San Diego State vs. Cal State Monterey Bay – 5 p.m. PT
Storylines
- Dana Ochsner, named interim head coach just prior to the 2023 season, had the interim tag removed on March 30, 2023, and heads into 2024 with her Aztecs' ranked No. 23 in the College Water Polo Association's Preseason Poll.
-For the third year in a row, the Aztecs are picked to finish fourth in the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) preseason coaches poll. Fresno State is predicted to defend its 2023 conference title and earned 49 points and 7 first-place votes, followed by Loyola Marymount (42 points, 1 first-place vote), Pacific (37 points), San Diego State (30 points), California Baptist (22 points), Azusa Pacific and Concordia tied with 16 points and Santa Clara (12 points).
-In the 30 seasons of Aztec water polo, SDSU has a 578-390 record.
-SDSU is looking to win its season opener for the fifth time in the last nine years. Last season San Diego State was downed by No. 3 UCLA in its season opener at the UCSB Winter Invite.
-The Aztecs are 19-10 all-time in the first game of the season and are a perfect 15-0 in season openers when the Aztecs are the higher ranked team.
-San Diego State leads the all-time series with Cal State Monterey Bay, 5-0. The last time the teams played, on March 31, 2022, the Aztecs won 13-4, the closest margin since the programs first met on March, 24 2004.
-Cal State Fullerton is in its second season of water polo. The Aztecs and Titans met in the second game of the 2023 season and behind Claudia Valdes' first collegiate hat trick, San Diego State cruised to a 12-4 victory.
-The series against Southern California began in 1995 with a 17-7 victory for the Aztecs. The teams have met a total of 50 times, with SDSU taking nine of the first 10 matchups, but from March 11, 1999, the Trojans have won 40 in a row. Southern California holds a 41-to-9 advantage in the all-time series, which includes a 23-to-4 lead in neutral site record.
-The Aztecs' first official home contests are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Aquaplex. SDSU will host a doubleheader against Long Beach State (1 p.m. PT) and Cal State Monterey Bay (3:30 p.m. PT).
-The Aztecs return seven of its top 10 goal scorers from last year and overall will need to replace 99 of last year's roster's 296 goals.
-Sophomore Claudia Valdes, a 2023 Golden Coast Conference (GCC) All-Freshman Team and All-Tournament Team honoree, returns as the team's leading scorer with 54 goals, 33 assists and a team-high 87 points. She was as successful in the classroom as she was in the pool, garnering GCC All-Academic Team and Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-Academic Superior Team designation.
-Junior Rose Kanemy, No. 5 in assists and assists per game in the GCC in 2023, brings back her team-high 46 assists, 28 goals and 74 points.
-Valdes and Kanemy will be boosted by junior Klara Goldstein (29 goals and 18 assists), as well as senior Kendal Houck (19 goals and 17 assists) and sophomore Shannon Murphy (10 goals and 13 assists).
-Goalies Mandy Lagerlof and Tiaare Ahovelo played all but eight minutes last season and are each back for her sophomore season. Lagerlof (7-15) played a team-high 615:52, let in 232 goals, made 183 saves for a 44.3 save percentage and an 11.95 goals against average (GAA). Ahovelo (5-4) balanced 130 goals allowed against 124 saves for a 48.8 save percentage and a 10.53 GAA
- Overall, the Aztecs feature a youthful roster that has seven freshmen, seven sophomores, six juniors and two seniors.
No. 23 Water Polo Opens Season at Titan Invitational
