HAYWARD, Calif. -- The 2016 Cal State East Bay women's water polo team has been picked to finish second in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) according to a preseason poll of the conference's six head coaches, it was announced Thursday.

Click here to view the full WWPA preseason release.

The Pioneers totaled 20 points and received one first-place vote, putting them just behind UC San Diego, which was unanimously selected to repeat as WWPA champions for the fourth straight year with 25 points and five first-place votes.

Sonoma State was predicted to take third place, garnering 17 points. The Seawolves were followed closely by Cal State Monterey Bay with 14 points in fourth place. Conference newcomer Mercyhurst was picked fifth, tallying nine points, and Gannon rounded out the voting with five points. 

Under head coach Lisa Cooper in her 14th season, the Pioneers return several key contributors from a 2015 team that finished runner-up at the WWPA Championships for the second straight year. That squad posted a record of 13-16 overall, which included nine games against teams ranked in the top 25 nationally. 

Senior Taylor Cross, who shared ACWPC Division II Player of the Year honors last season, was an ACWPC All-American and All-WWPA First Team selection after leading the team with 54 goals. She closed the season on a high note, leading all players with 12 goals at the 2015 WWPA Championships in Ohio. 

East Bay also welcomes back First Team All-American and Second Team All-WWPA honoree Tori Dettloff, as well as honorable mention All-WWPA selection Simonne Call. Four-year starter Casey Rushforth, who led the team with 45 assists and 44 steals last season, is one of seven seniors to return to the Hayward Hills for 2016.

The Pioneers open the season this weekend with a pair of games at San Jose State's Lou Strong Memorial. Cal State East Bay takes on the host Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8 a.m., followed by Cal State Bakersfield at 12 p.m.