{"id":621306,"date":"2025-08-21T11:49:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T18:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=621306"},"modified":"2025-08-21T11:49:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T18:49:26","slug":"ucla-augustana-head-mpsf-mens-water-polo-coaches-poll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ucla-augustana-head-mpsf-mens-water-polo-coaches-poll\/","title":{"rendered":"UCLA, Augustana Head MPSF Men\u2019s Water Polo Coaches Poll"},"content":{"rendered":"

UCLA, Augustana Head MPSF Men\u2019s Water Polo Coaches Poll<\/strong><\/p>\n

Defending NCAA champion UCLA collected 99 points and nine first-place votes to top the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men\u2019s water polo preseason coaches poll in the conference\u2019s Western Division, released on Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With 62 points, Augustana was picked first in the Eastern Division out of seven squads.<\/p>\n

UCLA returns 21 players, including national player of the year Ryder Dodd<\/strong>, from the national title team. He joins returning All-Americans Chase Dodd<\/strong> and Peter Castillo<\/strong> from a 26-2 squad.<\/p>\n

USC garnered two first-place votes and 91 total points for second in the West. The Trojans were ranked No. 2 overall at the end of last season, with a 23-6 record and its third straight MPSF West title. USC returns Robert Lopez Duart<\/strong> and Bernardo Herzer,<\/strong> both All-NCAA Tournament selections for the NCAA runner-up.<\/p>\n