Santa Barbara Claims 2023 WSC Women's Water Polo Championship

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 1-seeded Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros secured the program's ninth consecutive crown on Saturday afternoon at the 2023 Western State Conference Women's Water Polo Championship at LA Valley College. In the process, the #1-ranked Vaqueros improved to 31-1 on the season (undefeated against 3C2A opponents) and reached 61 straight conference wins, a streak that dates back to 2015. | RECAP

SBCC secured the win after defeating No. 3-seeded Ventura College, 16-6, in the battle for the crown. The Vaqueros worked towards a 6-0 lead by the midpoint of the second frame and entered the halftime break with a 7-2 advantage after Kendall Ribbers and Ella Montano scored for the Pirates. Santa Barbara surged ahead in the third, headlined by two goals from Cate Daland and three by Natalie Mancinelli, while building a 13-4 lead going into the final frame. In the fourth quarter, SBCC's Addie Lane netted two shots and Esther Sullivan tacked on one to close out the scoring for the victors. 

The Vaqueros earned a spot in the finals after topping No. 5-seeded Cuesta College on Friday, 12-3, while the Pirates knocked off No. 2 Citrus College (8-4) in the semis. Citrus closed the tournament with a third place finish after defeating Cuesta, 9-7, on Saturday morning. LA Valley, the fourth seeded team in the tournament, secured fifth place with a win over No. 6 Santa Monica (18-2).

Five teams will represent the conference at the SoCal Regional Tournament, led by the No. 1-seeded Vaqueros. Other WSC members to qualify for the tournament are No. 6 Ventura, No. 7 Citrus, No. 8 Cuesta, and No. 11 LA Valley. To view the full bracket, click here.