HAYWARD, Calif. — The No. RV Cal State East Bay water polo team is set to begin its 2022 season with a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 22, as the Pioneers take on Fresno Pacific at 10 a.m. before facing Cal State Monterey Bay at 3:15 p.m., as part of the UC Davis Aggie Shootout.

It will be East Bay's first regular-season contest since defeating Salem 17-7 at the Harvard Invite on March 8, 2020.

CSUEB was picked to finish second in the 2022 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday, as the Pioneers earned 44 total points and three first-place votes.

East Bay was predicted as the WWPA favorite in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season prematurely. 

In addition, the Pioneers are receiving votes in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Preseason Top 25 for the sixth-consecutive season, after also receiving votes in the Final 2020 Top 25 Poll after finishing 6-9 with a perfect 4-0 record in WWPA play. 

CSUEB returns a core of 2020 All-Americans including senior Auriel Bill, junior Adrien Van Dyke, junior Payton Bosque and sophomore goalkeeper Daniela Passoni.