SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State water polo program has been predicted to finish in fourth place in the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) in a poll of the league's eight head coaches, it was announced on Friday.
SDSU, which was predicted to finish in fourth place in last year’s preseason poll, did just that, finishing in fourth at the 2025 GCC Tournament. The Aztecs have reached the semifinal round in each of the last 11 GCC tournaments and the championship game five times in those years.
The poll was led by Fresno State, which compiled 35 points and five first place votes. Loyola Marymount was picked to finish in second with 31 points and garnered two first-place votes. Pacific was projected to claim third place in the standings and totaled 26 points, followed by the Aztecs (21 points), California Baptist (17 points), Azusa Pacific (9 points) and Santa Clara (8 points).
The Aztecs open their 2026 season on Friday, January 16 at the Titan Invitational (January 16 & 17) at Titan Aquatics Center on the campus of Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif. San Diego State will play four games and open play on Friday morning against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 11 a.m. PT and will then face Long Beach State at 3 p.m. PT.
The action continues on Saturday when San Diego State plays Biola at 3 p.m. PT and will wrap up the weekend at 7 p.m. PT against host Cal State Fullerton.
San Diego State returns its five top scorers from the 2025 season and overall, 78.0 percent of its tallies (320-of-410), 66.7 percent (53-of-87) of its blocks, 66.4 percent (168-of-253) of its steals, and 52.4 percent (182-of-347) of its assists.
Golden Coast Conference Water Polo
2026 Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Fresno State – 35 points (five first-place votes)
2. Loyola Marymount – 31 points (two first-place votes)
3. Pacific – 26 points
4. San Diego State – 21 points
- California Baptist – 17 points
6. Azusa Pacific – 9 points
7. Santa Clara – 8 points