DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis women's water polo looks towards two critical Big West matchups, hosting No. 18 UC San Diego (9-16, 1-3 Big West) on Friday afternoon before wrapping up the weekend with a first-ever conference meeting with Cal State Fullerton (11-16, 0-4 Big West) on Saturday.
 
Game 25: vs. UC San Diego
Where: Davis, Calif. (Schaal Aquatics Center)
When: April 7^th, 2023
Time: 12 p.m. PT
Live Stats
 
Game 26: vs. Cal State Fullerton – Pride Game
Where: Davis, Calif. (Schaal Aquatics Center)
When: April 8^th, 2023
Time: 12 p.m. PT
Live Stats
 
 
LAST TIME OUT
It was a battle of the Big West unbeatens on Friday afternoon inside Schaal Aquatics Center, but it was No. 6 UC Irvine who edged the 7-5 victory over UC Davis to retain its top spot in the conference standings.
UC Davis held their own against one of the nation's top teams, holding the Anteaters to their second-lowest goal tally of the season. It was a low-scoring affair that saw the Aggies gain the lead early in the third quarter. However, a late push from the visitors allowed them to regain a lead that they would not surrender, eventually earning the 7-5 win.
 
The Aggies regrouped on Saturday and managed to get back in the win column with a dominant 16-6 victory over Santa Clara.
 
Grace Pelkey shined in her four-goal day, also contributing an assist to make it five total points for the junior. This marks her sixth multi-goal game of the season, and her second with four or more in a match.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
UC San Diego comes into the weekend ranked 19^th in the nation by CWPA, carrying a 9-16 record (1-3 Big West). The Tritons have lost two straight, including three of their last four contests. The Aggies dropped an 8-7 decision on Feb. 3, but rebounded for a 9-6 win three weeks later on Feb. 25
 
Kendall Thomas leads the team with 46 goals and Caroline Christl has also eclipsed the 40-goal mark with 41 on the year.
 
Newcomers to the Big West Conference, Cal State Fullerton, have posted an 11-16 record (0-4 Big West) so far this season. The unranked Titans are still search for their first win ever in conference play and will bring a bit of momentum into the weekend as they recently defeated Cal State East Bay on March 30.
 
Gabrielle Zaretskiy has scored the third-most goals in the Big West with 59 on the year. Haden Skye Bates has been a force on the defensive end as her 43 steals puts her at the top of the conference rankings.
 
WIJNBELT NAMED TO CUTINO AWARD WATCH LIST
Noëlle Wijnbelt has been named to the 2023 Cutino Award Watch List. USA Water Polo, The Olympic Club, and the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) have collaborated to create The Peter J. Cutino Award, which recognizes the best player in men's and women's college water polo.
 
Wijnbelt was one of 20 athletes, as submitted by women's varsity college coaches around the country, recognized for her excellent play. This honor will acknowledge the full impact of the 2023 season and finalists for the Cutino Award will be announced following the completion of the women's season. The NCAA Championship is set for May 14 in Stockton, California.
 
The four-time All-American leads the Aggies with 44 goals on the season while also posting a team-high 22 drawn exclusions. With 247 career goals, Wijnbelt ranks second on the UC Davis women's water polo all-time scoring list. She is a Human Development major with aspirations to become a physician's assistant or physical therapist following her playing career.
 
WELCOME COACH WALDTHALER
After serving on the UC Davis women's water polo coaching staff for 12 seasons, Kandace Waldthaler was selected as the Coach Jamey Wright and Hodgens Family Director of Women's Water Polo. She spent the first seven seasons as an assistant coach and the last five as associate head coach. She has been instrumental in cementing the inclusive and high-performance culture the program has enjoyed under Wright. Most recently, Waldthaler joined the national team staff as an assistant coach for the Senior National "B" Team. 
 
The Aggies have enjoyed eight winning seasons, 19 ACWPC All-America recognitions, and 41 All-Big West honors during Waldthaler's time at UC Davis. The team has seen multiple ACWPA All-Academic honorees in every year of her tenure, including eight or more five times (2012, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021) with two team (2012, 2018) awards. 
 
NEXT UP
The Aggies will host Senior Day on April 15 at 12 p.m. as the seniors of UC Davis women's water polo will be honored prior to the game.