HAYWARD, Calif. — The No. RV Cal State East Bay water polo team is back in action this weekend, as it begins the 2020 season with a home showdown at Pioneer Pool against Fresno Pacific on Saturday, Jan. 25, beginning at 1 p.m.

The game is part of Cal State East Bay's second-annual Aquatics Day, with the water polo contest set to follow the CSUEB swim meet against Fresno Pacific at 10 a.m. 

"It's awesome to partner with the swim team," said Cal State East Bay head coach Lisa Cooper. "It's always great to be able to support other sports, especially swimming, who we share a pool with."

Saturday will be the first of three meetings this season between the Sunbirds and Pioneers, who are currently receiving votes in this week's latest ACWPC Top 25 Poll.

Although it's a matchup of two Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) foes, Saturday's showdown will not count toward the conference standings.

But getting an early look at a conference rival doesn't bother Cooper. Following Saturday's season opener, CSUEB will face four ranked opponents at next weekend's Cross Conference Challenge hosted by Arizona State.

"We treat all opponents the same," she said. "It's good because it gives us a good starting point before we play some big teams next weekend.

"We'll get to see where we are in relation to our conference opponents."

After finishing 15-15 overall and third in the WWPA last season, the Pioneers have worked relentlessly toward improving their deficiencies in order to make a push toward a conference championship in 2020.

"Coming off last year, we know our weakness and we've been working on it," Cooper said. "We're really fast and fit right now and our defensive game is really solid.

"Early in the year, it's always hard to get the chemistry right. As long as we can talk to each other and communicate, especially defensively, that's going to be our biggest key."
 
PIONEER POINTS

• Cal State East Bay won four of its last five games to close the 2019 season
• Senior Auriel Bill, junior Adrien Van Dyke were ACWPC First-Team All-America last year, while sophomore Daniela Passoni was a second-team selection
• Van Dyke led the Pioneers last season with 65 goals
• Bill led the WWPA with 51 assists in 2019, and her 99 total points tied Van Dyke for most on the team
• Passoni recorded 182 saves last season, while her 9.19 goals-against average was best in the WWPA
• Junior Maci Taylor's 25 assists and 41 total points both ranked third on the team in 2019
• Junior Payton Bosque's 21 goals in 2019 ranks third among Pioneer returners
• Senior Briana Ruiz ranked fourth on the team last season in assists (20) and total points (35)
• The Pioneers outscored opponents in the third quarter last season 69-59
• CSUEB converted 54-of-243 (.222) powerplay opportunities in 2019, while opponents converted only .208 percent (49-of-236) of 6-on-5 opportunities.
• The Pioneers recorded more steals (235-230) and fewer turnovers (377-403) than its opponents last season