CBU Picked Third in the Big West Preseason Poll; Andrea Nuzzo Named to Preseason Coaches' Team
8/24/2026 12:01:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team was picked third in its first-ever Big West preseason poll, with standout attacker Andrea Nuzzo also making the preseason coaches' team.
The Lancers are coming off a highly successful WCC era, making the title game in all three seasons in the conference and winning the title in 2024. In its first season in the Big West, the Lancers finished with 16 points, tied with UCSD, for third in the preseason coaches poll behind only Long Beach State and UC Irvine.
The rankings were highly reflective of the Collegiate Water Polo Association's preseason national poll, which had the Lancers picked 13th in the nation (tied with UC Irvine) after finishing last season ninth in the rankings. The Big West had five of its six teams represented in the top 15 nationally, including Long Beach State, making the top ten at #7.
CBU's star southpaw attacker, Andrea Nuzzo, also earned some early-season recognition by making the preseason coaches team as he enters his junior season with the Lancers. The Genoa, Italy native led the Lancers last season with 92 goals and 48 assists, while also being tied for the team lead in steals with 18. Nuzzo was an all-conference first-team member last season in the WCC and was a Third-Team All-American as a true sophomore for the Lancers.
The Lancers kick off their inaugural Big West campaign this Friday as they compete in the Bruno Classic against Wagner and Brown in Providence, Rhode Island.
