Rustlers Still Rule Rankings; Vikings Inch Closer to Top Spot
Santa Cruz, Calif. – Nine-time defending champion Golden West remained No. 1 in the CCCWPCA Men's Water Polo Top 10 in week four. But, for the first time this season, the Rustlers were not the unanimous choice. One coach saw fit to vote West Valley No. 1, breaking GWC's five-week run, including the preseason poll, as the unanimous top dog.
Maybe it was West Valley's impressive 4-0 run at the Mt. SAC Invitational that included wins over No. 3 Orange Coast, No. 6 Saddleback, Sierra, and Mt. SAC. Maybe it was WVC's 30-7 and 30-6 Coast Conference-opening wins over Cabrillo and Ohlone, respectively. But, as the Vikings and the Rustlers - programs both built for the postseason - will tell you, regular season rankings, while nice, are of limited importance.
Positions 1-5 in the rankings remained unchanged, while Saddleback climbed three spots to No. 6, as did Cypress, which landed at No. 7. No. 9 American River showed the Big 8 who's boss with a dominant 22-6 victory over arch-rival Sierra.
(Matt Folsom, CCCWPCA)
2026 CCCWPCA Men's Water Polo Coaches Poll (Sept. 23)
| Rank | College | Points (1st) | Record | PR | |
| 1. | Golden West | 199 (9) | 8-0 | 1 | Opened OEC Action with 19-8 Win over Fullerton |
| 2. | West Valley | 191 (1) | 10-0 | 2 | 4-0 at Mt. SAC Tourney; Wins over No. 3 OCC, No. 6 Saddleback; 30-7, 30-6 Wins to Open Coast |
| 3. | Orange Coast | 179 | 9-3 | 3 | Wins over Cypress, ARC, Ventura; Face ARC, Saddleback at Cuesta Tourney |
| 4. | Long Beach City | 170 | 4-2 | 4 | Topped Rio Hondo, 22-7, to open SCC; Take on OCC, ARC at Cuesta |
| 5. | Cerritos | 141 | 12-2 | 5 | Double-digit Wins over Rio and Chaffey to Begin South Coast Schedule |
| 6. | Saddleback | 131 | 7-5 | 9 | Tough Schedule; Win over SD Miramar; Losses to West Valley, Orange Coast |
| 7. | Cypress | 126 | 7-3 | 10 | Win Streak at Four Big OT Win over ARC at Mt. SAC Tourney |
| 8. | Cuesta | 121 | 1-5 | 8 | All Games So Far against NCAA Foes; Host No. 1 GWC and ARC This Weekend |
| 9. | American River | 120 | 8-6 | 6 | Smashed Sierra, 22-6, in Big 8 Opener; Topped Cypress, Ventura at Mt. SAC Tourney |
| 10. | Ventura | 111 | 7-8 | 7 | 12-7 Win over Citrus in WSC Opener; Fell to No. 3 OCC, No. 7 Cypress, No. 9 ARC at Mt. SAC |
Others Receiving Votes: San Diego Miramar 50, Mt. San Antonio 11.