California Baptist University
UC Irvine
MWP Preview: CBU Prepares for Saturday Home Showdown with #6 UC Irvine
10/16/2026 11:52:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team will have one of its biggest challenges of the conference schedule on Saturday afternoon as they host #6 UC Irvine at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
The Lancers are 20-5 entering this matchup and began conference action last Saturday, where they defeated #12 UC Santa Barbara 14-12 on the road for their first-ever conference win as a Big West member. CBU has won 11 of its last 13 matches, with its only two losses coming against #5 opponents, including #4 Fordham and #2 UCLA.
The opponent on deck for the Lancers is #6 UC Irvine, the top-ranked team in the Big West as of this meeting, which has won its last seven matches heading into Saturday. UCI began conference action with a convincing 19-6 victory over Cal State Fullerton at home, and they have five ranked wins thus far this season. The Anteaters and Lancers have an extensive history, and this will mark the 27th meeting between the two programs. UCI holds the series edge 22-4; however, the Lancers have won two of the last four matchups, including a home win over UCI when they were ranked #5 in 2024. That win was the highest-ranked win in program history for the Lancers.
CBU will continue to rely on its dynamic duo of Andrea Nuzzo and Rafa Martinez, who have been simply phenomenal for the Lancers this season, combining for nearly 40% of CBU's goals with 104 goals scored. Martinez and Nuzzo have each scored 52 goals while shooting over 50%. Those figures rank second and third in the Big West, respectively, with Nuzzo leading the conference in assists with 58. A win in this matchup would be tied for the second-highest-ranked win of the season and in program history.
MATCHUP INFO: #14 CBU vs #6 UC Irvine
WHERE: Riverside, CA- Lancer Aquatics Center
WHEN: 12 PM
WATCH: ESPN+
