HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay water polo team has been picked to finish in second place in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) in 2018 according to a preseason poll of the conference's eight head coaches, the league office announced Thursday.

This news comes just two days after the Pioneers cracked the top 25 in this week's USA Water Polo national collegiate rankings, occupying the No. 24 spot. This is CSUEB's first appearance in the new USA Water Polo rankings, which use a mathematical system that accounts for margin of victory and strength of schedule. Following East Bay's dramatic 11-10 win over Santa Clara on Saturday, the Pioneers are also receiving top-25 votes in this week's Collegiate Water Polo Association poll for the first time this season. 

The WWPA coaches selected five-time defending champion UC San Diego, currently ranked No. 15 in the nation, to repeat as conference champs for the sixth time in 2018. The Tritons received 49 points and seven of the eight first-place votes.

CSUEB was not far behind with 42 points and the lone remaining first place vote. 2018 runner-up Sonoma State was tabbed for third place after breaking East Bay's streak of three straight WWPA title game appearances in 2017. The Seawolves were followed by Fresno Pacific in fourth place (27 points), Cal State Monterey Bay in fifth (26 points), Mercyhurst in sixth (21 points), and Gannon and McKendree tied for seventh (11 points). Below is the full preseason poll.

2018 WWPA COACHES POLL
1. UC San Diego - 49 (7)
2. Cal State East Bay - 42 (1)
3. Sonoma State - 37
4. Fresno Pacific - 27
5. Cal State Monterey Bay - 26
6. Mercyhurst - 21
T7. Gannon - 11
T7. McKendree - 11

This week, Cal State East Bay embarks on perhaps its toughest road trip of the year with five games forthcoming against some of the best teams in the nation. The Pioneers travel to La Jolla for a showdown with UCSD on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Canyonview Aquatic Center. It will be the first and only regular season matchup of the season between the Tritons and Pioneers.

Following that game between the top two projected squads in the WWPA, the Pioneers remain in La Jolla over the weekend to compete in UCSD's annual Triton Invitational. East Bay opens the seeded tournament Saturday morning against the No. 6 team in the country, Arizona State, at 10:40 a.m. Depending on that result, the Pioneers will then play either No. 10 UC Davis or No. 19 Loyola Marymount later that afternoon. The squad will close out the weekend with two more contests on Sunday against to-be-determined opponents. 

This weekend will be a tough test for CSUEB, which as gotten off to a strong start in 2018. After falling to No. 17 San Jose State in the regular season opener, the Pioneers have picked up victories over Fresno Pacific and Division I Santa Clara in their last two contests.

Sophomore Auriel Bill recorded hat tricks in both wins and leads the Pioneers so far this season with seven goals and eight assists. Leilani Vazquez, Ivanna Anderson, and Brittany Smith have netted four goals apiece, while Briana Ruiz ranks second on the team with three assists.

Junior goalkeeper Makenna Nation earned the first WWPA Player of the Week award of 2018 on Wednesday following an outstanding effort in the cage against the Broncos. She ranks second in the conference with 25 total saves in three games, and has been at her best in the fourth quarter of both Pioneer victories.

The Pioneers posted a 1-3 record at the Triton Invitational in 2017, with losses to three nationally ranked teams and a narrow win over Sonoma State. On Friday, they will be looking for their first victory over UCSD in program history.