Villanova Water Polo Team Swims West: Exciting Showdown in California!

Villanova’s water polo team is headed to California this weekend. They’ll play five games in three days, with many players hailing from the West Coast.

This weekend marks their seventh appearance at the Convergence Tournament, a competition they’ve participated in since 2018, except for 2021 when they opted out due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Wildcats will compete against Concordia University Irvine, California State University Fullerton, McKendree University, and California Lutheran University. They will also have a stand-alone match against California State University, Northridge after the tournament.

Last year, Villanova had a solid performance, winning three out of four games. They beat Santa Clara University, Whittier College, and Occidental College, with their only loss being to the University of Southern California, who was ranked fifth at the time.

Currently, Villanova holds a national ranking of No. 23 in the CWPA poll and No. 25 in the ACWPC poll. They have a season record of 7-5, with their losses primarily against ranked teams.

Day One: Friday, February 28
The Wildcats kick off the tournament on Friday with a match against Concordia University Irvine at Chapman University at 1:15 PM PST. CUI has struggled this season, with a 1-9 record and a loss to the University of the Pacific, similar to a tough loss Villanova experienced in overtime. Historically, Villanova has faced Concordia twice but has not secured a win.

Later in the day, at 6:15 PM PST, they play California State University Fullerton. This will be their first match against the Titans, who have a record of 9-8 this season.

Day Two: Saturday, March 1
On Saturday, the team will head to Occidental College for two more games. They begin at 12:00 PM PST against McKendree University. Villanova has a strong history against McKendree, winning four out of five matchups, including a decisive victory last season.

Their final match of the tournament will be against California Lutheran University. Villanova has a competitive record against Cal Lu, with their last victory against them coming just last year in a close match.

Day Three: Sunday, March 2
To wrap up the weekend, Villanova will play California State University, Northridge. In their last encounter, the Wildcats lost a close match. CSUN has a solid record this season, and their game against Villanova will surely be competitive, led by a pair of standout players from Hungary.

In the lead-up to this tournament, the Wildcats haven’t played since February 15, with their last match resulting in a strong win against Siena. Emily McKenzie had an impressive game with nine points.

As the tournament unfolds, fans can watch Villanova’s games streamed through Flo Sports. Keep an eye on their social media for the latest updates!