SAN DIEGO - Coming on the heels of its preseason No. 23 ranking in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Preseason Poll, the San Diego State water polo team has been predicted to finish in fourth place in the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) by a poll of the league's eight head coaches.
SDSU, which completed last season with a winning record for the first time in seven years, finished in third place at the 2024 GCC Tournament. The Aztecs have reached the semifinal round in each of the last 10 GCC tournaments and the championship game five times in those years, totaled 30 points to slot in behind Pacific which received 36 points and is predicted to finish in third place. The poll was led by Fresno State which compiled 47 points and five first place votes. Loyola Marymount was picked to finish in second with 43 points and garnered three first-place votes.
Azusa Pacific was picked to finish fifth (25 points), with California Baptist (21 points) in sixth, Santa Clara in seventh (11 points) and Concordia rounding out the poll in eighth with nine points.
The Aztecs open their 2025 season this Saturday, January 18 at the ASU Invitational (January 18 & 19) at Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. San Diego State opens play on Saturday afternoon against California Baptist at 12:40 p.m. MT/11:40 a.m. PT and will then face the host, No. 13 Arizona State, at 3:20 p.m. MT/2:20 p.m. PT.
The action continues on Sunday with San Diego State playing Cal Lutheran at 11:30 a.m. MT/10:30 a.m. PT and wrapping up the competition at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT against No. 15 UC Davis.
Golden Coast Conference Water Polo
2025 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Fresno State – 47 points (five first-place votes)
2. Loyola Marymount – 43 points (three first-place votes)
3. Pacific – 36 points
4. San Diego State – 30 points
5. Azusa Pacific – 25 points
6. California Baptist – 21 points
7. Santa Clara – 11 points
8. Concordia – 9 points