Kalbus Invitational Highlights Spectacular Weekend of Water Polo Motion
The Barbara Kalbus Invitational—beforehand often called the UCI Invitational—is essentially the most aggressive event of the ladies’s NCAA common season. It’s an invitational, and eight of the nation’s present top-10 groups—and 13 of the highest 16—will journey to Irvine for 3 days of competitors.
The 2024 Barbara Kalbus Invitational Event Central
Over the previous 16 years, solely three groups have received this event; USC (8 occasions), Stanford (5 occasions), UCLA (3 occasions). Each winner has performed for the nationwide championship; eight Kalbus winners have additionally captured NCAA titles. Oh, and the CWPA ballot is sort of certain to alter from this week.
1) UCLA (10-0; 0-0 MPSF); A better than snug 14-12 win final Saturday over Arizona State; the Bruins and Solar Devils have been tied at 10 going into the ultimate interval. They open the UCI event in opposition to Cal State Fullerton.
2) Hawai’i (8-1; 0-0 Massive West); This weekend presents a monumental check for Head Coach Maureen Cole’s squad. Their best-ever end on this event was third place in 2022. The Rainbow Wahine have already crushed USC and Stanford this yr—first time ever in identical yr and each have been #1 within the nation. They open in opposition to Pomona-Pitzer.
3) Fresno State (10-3; 0-0 GCC); Bulldogs open in opposition to Biola; a win places them in a second spherical match in opposition to winner of Cal vs. UC-San Diego.
4) Stanford (7-2; 0-0 MPSF); The Cardinal are two-time defending NCAA champions in addition to 2022 and 2023 Kalbus Invite winners. They’re down gamers as a result of 2024 Paris Olympics; the trail to a third-straight Kalbus title begins in opposition to UC Santa Barbara.
5) USC (5-2; 0-0 MPSF); An early dip in Head Coach Casey Moon’s return have been losses to Hawai’i and Fresno State. The Trojans—who beat UC-Irvine final week in Irvine—open in opposition to Indiana and would face Stanford on Day Two… if each win.
6) Cal (6-1; 0-0 MPSF); Golden Bears have maybe the event’s greatest goalie in Isabel Williams; they’ve by no means received a Kalbus Invite title; greatest end was third place final yr—after two years off attributable to Covid 19. Cal opens in opposition to UC San Diego.
7) Arizona State (12-2; 0-0 MPSF); The Solar Devils’ better-than-expected exhibiting continued with an impressed efficiency in Westwood in opposition to the Bruins. It’s the second time ASU has misplaced to UCLA; first by 5 objectives after which by two. The Solar Devils open on Friday in opposition to Lengthy Seashore State.
8) Michigan (9-5; 0-0 CWPA); It is a nice check for the Wolverines; they’ll open in opposition to host Anteaters. It’s Michigan’s final journey to California for normal season play; fifth place (2016) is the very best Massive Blue has positioned on the Kalbus.
9) Princeton (6-2; 0-0 CWPA); Tigers will keep East this weekend with matches in opposition to MAAC members La Salle in Philadelphia and at dwelling in opposition to LIU.
10) UC-Irvine (4-6; 0-0); The Anteaters didn’t take part in their very own event final yr attributable to abuse allegations in opposition to a now former UCI participant (which stay unproven). Coach Dan Klatt saved the staff collectively they usually certified for NCAAs.
11) Loyola Marymount (13-2; 0-0 GCC); Lions won’t go to Irvine and hope to increase a scorching begin in opposition to CSUN, Cal State East Bay, Ottawa Arizona and College of Redlands this weekend.
12) Lengthy Seashore State (7-3; 0-0 Massive West); The Seashore opens in opposition to Arizona State; a win they usually seemingly face Massive West foe Hawai’i Saturday morning.
13 (T) UC-Santa Barbara (9-5; 0-0 Massive West); Gauchos draw Stanford on Day One among Kalbus Invite; not solely is it a troublesome match-up in opposition to two-time NCAA champs, in 22 matches UCSB has solely crushed the Cardinal as soon as… the first-ever match between the 2 groups (1999).
13 (T) Indiana (12-0; 0-0 MPSF); The Hoosiers have benefited from matches in opposition to decrease ranked and/or Japanese opponents (they’ve crushed #21 Marist twice). MPSF actuality units in Friday versus convention foe USC; from right here on out Indiana will face seven opponents within the Prime Ten—not together with Saturday and Sunday opponents in Irvine.
13 (T) UC-Davis (2-12; 0-0 Massive West); Aggies catch a scheduling break, touring East for the Harvard Invitational. Matches are in opposition to host Harvard, Brown, La Salle and Siena.
Courtesy: UC-San Diego
13 (T) UC-San Diego (6-5; 0-0 Massive West); 12-11 loss to LMU regardless of a livid fourth interval stretches Triton dropping streak to 3. Opening Kalbus play in opposition to Cal; there’s an inspiring story about Sofia and Sydney Munatones, who adopted brother Skyler to UCSD.
17) Pacific (8-3; 0-0 GCC); The Tigers dropped a one-goal choice to Marist then beat Brown, Cal State Monterey Bay and San Jose State. Off this weekend, they open convention play in opposition to Azusa Pacific.
18) Wagner (12-2; 0-0 MAAC); After wins final week in Princeton in opposition to Bucknell and San Diego the Seahawks journey to Cambridge, MA for matches in opposition to host Harvard, Brown, Mercyhurst and Santa Clara.
19) Harvard (4-3; 0-0 CWPA); Final weekend the Crimson suffered an 11-6 loss to host Princeton however claimed wins over La Salle and Villanova. Massive weekend at Blodgett Pool; Harvard opens CWPA play in opposition to Brown then has 4 matches over the weekend, together with UC-Davis and Wagner.
20) Brown (7-5; 0-0 CWPA); Can get off to a quick convention begin in opposition to Harvard; 8-7 win in opposition to San Jose State at Santa Clara prolong Bear win streak to 3 and dropped the Spartans out of the highest twenty. A rematch Sunday in opposition to Wagner, who beat the Bears 13-10 three weeks in the past.
NOTABLE:
Marist (10-10; 0-0 MAAC); The Crimson Foxes have already performed 20 matches; a win over Pacific was a giant increase. Marist is off till March 1, once they journey to Claremont for 4 matches as a part of the Claremont Convergence Event.
San Jose State (6-6; 0-0 MPSF); The Spartans have been as soon as ranked as excessive as sixteenth; now they’re twenty third. The issue is they’re a part of the MPSF; fortunately they solely play Cal, Stanford, UCLA and USC as soon as a season.
