California Baptist University
UC Davis
CBU Downs #6 UC Davis for Second-Highest Ranked Victory in Program History
9/20/2026 4:43:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
STANFORD, CA--- The California Baptist University men's water polo team closed out the MPSF Invitational on Sunday afternoon in a big way as they took down #6 UC Davis 17-16 for the second-highest ranked win in program history.
The win is the third top-6 victory in the Lancers' program history and the third-ranked victory of the season for CBU. The Lancers improve to 11-3 overall and finish the MPSF Invitational 2-2 and in 13th place overall in the tournament.
The Lancers and Aggies played each other even in the opening period as they went back and forth at one another over the opening eight minutes of action. The Aggies would outscore the Lancers by one goal in the second period as the offenses continued to move up and down the pool. The Aggies would lead 8-7 at the break after a buzzer-beating goal.
UC Davis would score the first two goals of the half to lead by three before Alessandro Tiberio ended the drought with a goal in transition to cut the lead down to two points. Phil Portisch would get a quick steal on the ensuing possession and would find Micah Grantham for the fastbreak goal to cut the lead down to one goal midway through the third period.
Andrea Nuzzo would score the opening goal of the fourth period to knot the match at 11 goals apiece before UC Davis would score on back-to-back possessions to extend its lead back to two goals. Nuzzo would score two more goals on the next two Lancer possessions, with the first coming off a penalty shot to tie the game once again at 13-13. Davis responded with a backhanded goal from the middle, but Paulo Hernandez would score twice on ensuing possessions to tie and then take the lead away from the Aggies.
Rafa Martinez would bury the dagger into UC Davis with a goal from the middle, then draw a penalty to give Nuzzo another goal and put CBU up 17-14 with just over two minutes to play. UC Davis would score two quick goals, but the time would be against them, and the Lancers would hold on for the statement 17-16 victory.
Nuzzo would finish with six goals (three on penalties) and would have five assists for an incredible 11-point performance. Paulo Hernandez was equally as impressive with four goals, including two in the fourth period, and would add two steals. Michael Abshier and Whitley Beamon each would dish out three assists, while Tanner McCreary would have double-digit saves with ten for the Lancers.
NEXT: The Lancers will host The Joust Tournament beginning on Friday, September 25, starting with matchups against Cal State Fullerton and Toronto at the Lancer Aquatics Center.
