Vaqueros Vault Past Two-Time Champ Vikings into CCCWPCA Top Spot
Santa Cruz, Calif. – The votes are in, and Santa Barbara City College is the new No. 1 in the California Community College Water Polo Coaches Association (CCCWPCA) Women's Water Polo Top 10. The Vaqueros, winners of back-to-back titles in 2022-23, received more overall votes than two-time defending champion Long Beach City College, which garnered a near-unanimous 10 first-place votes.
Neither squad, nor any Top Ten team for that matter, has yet to play a game in 2026. Nearly every team hits the water this weekend with a veritable who's who of women's water polo heading to San Luis Obispo for the 2026 Cuesta Invitational.
In addition to Santa Barbara's return to the top spot, 2021 champ West Valley returns to the rankings for the first time since 2024. With a brutal schedule at Cuesta, the Vikings will get a chance to prove they belong.
(Matt Folsom, CCCWPCA)
2026 CCCWPCA Women's Water Polo Coaches Poll (Sept. 2)
| Rank | College | Points (1st) | Record | PR | |
| 1. | Santa Barbara City | 207 (1) | 0-0 | 2 | Open 2026 at Cuesta Invite vs. No. 7 Saddleback, No. 9 Cuesta |
| 2. | Long Beach City | 200 (10) | 0-0 | 1 | Open at Cuesta, Take on No. 3 RCC, No. 6 GWC, No. 7 Saddleback |
| 3. | Riverside City | 195 | 0-0 | 3 | Face No. 2 LBCC, No. 9 Cuesta, No. 10 WVC at Cuesta Invite |
| 4. | Orange Coast | 186 | 0-0 | 4 | Off until Saddleback Tournament (9/11-12) |
| 5. | Sierra | 174 | 0-0 | 5 | At San Diego Miramar Tourney vs Mt. SAC, SD Miramar |
| 6. | Golden West | 156 | 0-0 | 6 | No. 1 SBCC, No. 2 LBCC, No. 10 West Valley at Cuesta |
| 7. | Saddleback | 114 | 0-0 | 8 | No. 1 SBCC, No. 1 LBCC, No. 10 West Valley at Cuesta |
| 8. | San Joaquin Delta | 113 | 0-0 | 7 | Off until Big 8 Opener vs. No. 5 Sierra (9/16) |
| 9. | Cuesta | 73 | 0-0 | 10 | 2025 Host No. 1 SBCC, No. 2 LBCC, No. 6 GWC to Open 2026 |
| 10. | West Valley | 70 | 0-0 | RV | Face No. 3 RCC, No. 6 GWC, No. 7 Saddleback at Cuesta |
Others Receiving Votes: American River 53, San Diego Miramar 37, Fullerton 26, Crafton Hills 23, Cabrillo 15, Diablo Valley 15, Chaffey 14, Ventura 12, Cerritos 11, Mt. San Antonio 11.