#GCCWATERPOLO — There are 10 games on this week’s schedule in the Golden Coast Conference, with a trio of league matchups in the spotlight.
Two-time GCC regular-season champion and seventh-ranked LMU heads out on its first road conference trip of the season, taking on No. 21 Pacific on Saturday. The Lions have won 10 straight, while Pacific picked up a pair of top-20 wins last week.
Also on Saturday, No. 12 Fresno State travels to Azusa Pacific. Then on Sunday, LMU visits Santa Clara two complete the Northern California swing.
In nonconference action, No. 19 San Diego State hosts the Aztec Invitational, hosting four games over three days, including top-20 showdowns with No. 14 Princeton and No. 12 Harvard.
Here is a look at this week’s schedule:
Friday, March 13
#14 Princeton at #19 San Diego State – 11:30 A.M. (Aztec Invite)
Bucknell at #19 San Diego State – 3:00 P.M. (Aztec Invite)
#23 California Baptist at #10 UC Irvine – 6:00 P.M.
Saturday, March 14
#7 LMU at #21 Pacific – 11:00 A.M. – GCC Game: Stats | Video
#12 Fresno State at Azusa Pacific – 12:00 P.M. – GCC Game: Stats | Video
Cal State Fullerton at #23 California Baptist – 6:00 P.M.
Sunday, March 1
#7 LMU at Santa Clara – 11:00 A.M. – GCC Game: Stats | Video
#24 Pomona-Pitzer at #19 San Diego State – 11:40 A.M. (Aztec Invite)
#12 Fresno State at #2 UCLA – 1:00 P.M.
#12 Harvard at #19 San Diego State – 4:20 P.M.
For full coverage, check out the full schedule here >>
A LOOK BACK AT WEEK EIGHT
The Claremont Convergence highlighted the schedule last week, with San Diego State earning a 19-6 win over Azusa Pacific in the only league matchup to start the week last Thursday.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pacific earned a pair of top-20 wins last week, defeating No. 14 UC Davis (8-7) and No. 17 San Jose State (15-14 OT). Leading the way was junior
Laia Marsinach Ortega, who recorded 12 total points to earn GCC Player of the Week honors for March 12. She totaled eight goals and four assists, including the game-winner with 2:00 remaining as part of a six-goal performance at San Jose State. Ortega now has a team-high 35 goals this season.
2026 Player of the Week Honorees:
Mar. 12 – Laia Marsinach Ortega, Pacific
Mar. 5 – Emison Styris, LMU
Feb. 26 – Noa Sasover, LMU
Feb. 19 – Claudia Valdes, San Diego State
Feb. 12 – Emmie Ramirez, California Baptist
Feb. 5 – Anna Tarantino, LMU
Jan. 29 – Katelyn Mobley, Fresno State
Jan. 22 – Mimi Stoupas, San Diego State
WEEK EIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
Montana George led Azusa Pacific with 16 goals in five games, including six goals in a win over McKendree. She also added nine assists, 10 steals, six drawn ejections and 18 sprints won over the weekend, as the Cougars went 4-1 with wins over McKendree (17-12), Salem (14-10), UC Merced (11-8) and Occidental (20-0). The lone setback came in conference play against San Diego State (19-6).
LMU’s
Sophia DeMattia scored four goals with 11 assists, four steals and two field blocks, leading the Lions to a perfect 4-0 record that included two wins over ranked opponents at the Claremont Convergence — No. 20 Wagner (14-7) and No. 14 Princeton (10-8). LMU also defeated Long Island (16-7) and UC Merced (16-6). Her 15 points were the most on the team over the four games, and she recorded three or more points in each contest. Defensively, the LMU senior also posted a team-high four steals and two field blocks.
Ioanna Petiki led San Diego State to a 19-6 win over Azusa Pacific in GCC play, finishing with seven assists and one goal. The victory improved the Aztecs to 3-0 at home this season.
Emmie Ramirez led the Lancers at the Convergence Tournament, scoring 10 goals in four games and leading the team with 13 points. Ramirez had her best game of the tournament against Iona with seven points and five goals as California Baptist rallied to defeat the Gaels 14-10 in Orange, California. She also added four steals in the tournament as the Lancers went 2-2.
2026 GCC STAT LEADERS
Visit the
GCC Stats Page for full stats on all teams.
Goals
| ## |
Name |
Team |
G |
| 1. |
Jessie Nelson |
APU |
62 |
| 2. |
Mimi Stoupas |
SDSU |
56 |
|
Bailey Hollick |
APU |
56 |
| 4. |
Emmie Ramirez |
CBU |
53 |
| 5. |
Montana George |
APU |
51 |
|
Hailey Andress |
FS |
51 |
|
Audrey Dexter |
APU |
51 |
Assists
| ## |
Name |
Team |
A |
| 1. |
Niya Bumbaca |
CBU |
47 |
| 2. |
Emmie Ramirez |
CBU |
46 |
| 3. |
Claudia Valdes |
SDSU |
44 |
| 4. |
Sophia DeMattia |
LMU |
43 |
| 5. |
Ioanna Petiki |
SDSU |
39 |
Total Points
| ## |
Name |
Team |
TP |
| 1. |
Emmie Ramirez |
CBU |
99 |
| 2. |
Niya Bumbaca |
CBU |
84 |
| 3. |
Claudia Valdes |
SDSU |
79 |
| 4. |
Audrey Dexter |
APU |
76 |
| 5. |
Montana George |
APU |
75 |
Field Blocks
| ## |
Name |
Team |
FB |
| 1. |
Anna Tarantino |
LMU |
24 |
| 2. |
Devyn Ruffer |
CBU |
14 |
| 3. |
Sydney Maccabe |
SCU |
13 |
|
Emison Styris |
LMU |
13 |
| 5. |
Brooke Tora Gil |
LMU |
9 |
Steals
| ## |
Name |
Team |
STL |
| 1. |
Emmie Ramirez |
CBU |
36 |
| 2. |
Lucy Bullock |
SDSU |
31 |
| 3. |
Kori Cunningham |
APU |
29 |
| 4. |
Mimi Stoupas |
SDSU |
27 |
| 5. |
Claudia Valdes |
SDSU |
26 |
|
Sydney Maccabe |
SCU |
26 |
Saves
| ## |
Name |
Team |
Svs |
| 1. |
Haley Tassell |
SCU |
176 |
| 2. |
Katelyn Mobley |
FS |
153 |
| 3. |
Daniela Herrero Miralles |
APU |
140 |
| 4. |
Madison Searle |
LMU |
114 |
| 5. |
Tyanna Schneider |
CBU |
112 |
Save Percentage
| ## |
Name |
Team |
Sv |
PCT |
| 1. |
Tiaare Ahovelo |
SDSU |
71 |
.534 |
| 2. |
Madison Searle |
LMU |
114 |
.502 |
| 3. |
Katelyn Mobley |
FS |
153 |
.477 |
Goals Against Average
| ## |
Name |
Team |
GP |
GAA |
| 1. |
Tiaare Ahovelo |
SDSU |
14 |
9.08 |
| 2. |
Madison Searle |
LMU |
16 |
9.09 |
| 3. |
Katelyn Mobley |
FS |
17 |
10.92 |
NATIONAL POLLS
The Collegiate Water Polo Association Varsity Top 25 after week eight has LMU ranked seventh. Fresno State is ranked 12th in this week’s poll, tied with Harvard. San Diego State remained at No. 19. After a pair of top-20 wins, Pacific moved up to No. 21 from No. 24. California Baptist is ranked 23rd.
Full poll >>
PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
Fresno State has been picked to win the Golden Coast Conference in the 2026 season, according to the annual Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Friday. The seven GCC head coaches gave the Bulldogs 35 points, four better than second place LMU. Fresno State has won GCC tournament titles (2021-24) and three regular season titles (2021-23). LMU won last year’s tournament and the last two regular season championships. The two teams have faced off in the GCC title game three of the last four years, including epic battles in the last two title games. Fresno State earned five first place votes to LMU’s two to claim the top spot in this year’s preseason poll. Rounding out the poll is Pacific (26 points) at third place, San Diego State (21) in fourth, California Baptist (17) in fifth, Azusa Pacific (9) in sixth, and Santa Clara (8) in seventh.
ROAD TO THE GCC CHAMPIONSHIP
The
2026 GCC Championship will run April 10-12 at Fresno State. Tickets for this year’s tournament go on sale Wednesday, March 18. The action begins Friday, April 10, with three quarterfinal matches, while the top seed receives a bye to the semifinals. Play continues Saturday, April 11, with two semifinals and two consolation games. The tournament concludes Sunday, April 12, with the third-place game followed by the championship match. Every game of the 2026 GCC Championship will be streamed live through streaming rights partner Overnght Media.
Learn more >>
ABOUT THE GCC
The 2026 campaign marks the 13th season of the Golden Coast Conference and features seven institutions competing in the NCAA. Following the 2016 season, the women’s division earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship, with the winner of the annual league tournament representing the GCC.
In 2025, LMU defeated four-time GCC champion Fresno State — which won the tournament in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 — to claim the Lions’ third tournament title. The league’s seven members in 2026 are Azusa Pacific, California Baptist, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, Pacific, San Diego State and Santa Clara.
This will be the final season for the Lancers in the GCC, as California Baptist will join the Big West beginning in the 2026-27 season. That season, the GCC will expand to nine teams with Saint Mary’s, San Jose State and UC Davis joining the conference.