California Golden Bears Athletics
Saturday, August 29
La Jolla, CA
10:30 AM PT
California
vs
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos
No. 4 Cal Opens Season At Triton Invitational
8/26/2026 11:48 AM | Men's Water Polo
Bears Face No. 15 UCSB, No. 12 UCSD
The No. 4 California men's water polo team makes its first splash Saturday opening the 2026 season at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla. The Golden Bears will compete in a doubleheader facing No. 15 UC Santa Barbara in the morning before taking on host No. 12 UC San Diego in the afternoon.
Every game of the tournament will be live streamed on Overnght.com (subscription required). Live scoring will be provided for all games that feature the Tritons.
Game Information | Triton Invitational
No. 15 UC Santa Barbara
Game 1
· Date and Time: Saturday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. PT
· Location: La Jolla, CA | Canyonview Pool
· Live Stream: Overnght.com
No. 12 UC San Diego
Game 2
· Date and Time: Saturday, August 29, at 2:40 p.m. PT
· Location: La Jolla, CA | Triton Pool
· Live Stream: Overnght.com
· Live Stats: The Fosh
2026 PRESEASON POLLS
Both the CWP Preseason Poll and the MPSF Coaches' Poll shook out the same this year reflecting the final standings of 2025. The Golden Bears were picked to finish fourth in conference and nationally while reigning national champion UCLA was picked to threepeat. MPSF Champion and national runner-up USC was ranked second, and national semifinalist Stanford took third.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Bears return 18 members of last year's roster including its five top scorers who combined for 171 goals and 232 points in 2025. That group is led by sophomore Beso Akhvlediani who was named a Second Team All-American after leading Cal with 59 goals and 82 points while also becoming the program's first freshman First Team All-MPSF selection since 2019. On the defensive end Cal gets back sophomore goalkeeper Aran Pina who is fresh off a silver-medal finish as Spain's starter at the U-20 European Championships. Pina played in 21 of 23 games and compiled 166 saves and 29 steals.
2025 RECAP
Cal once again competed among the nation's elite during the 2025 season, facing one of the country's most demanding schedules in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and posting a 15-8 overall record. The Golden Bears battled a slate that featured every 2024 NCAA semifinalist and multiple top-10 opponents, highlighted by an impressive 13-11 victory over then-No. 2 USC. Individually, four Golden Bears earned ACWPC All-America recognition. Seniors Albert Ponferrada and Nik Mirkovic, along with freshman goalkeeper Aran Pina, received All-America honorable mention honors for their contributions throughout the season. The Bears also continued their tradition of academic excellence, placing multiple student-athletes on the MPSF All-Academic Team.
GOLDEN SUCCESS
The Bears have won 17 NCAA championships, including three in a row from 2021-2023, making Cal the winningest program in men's water polo history. During Kirk Everist's tenure as a head coach, he has been named the ACWPC National Coach of the Year five times (2006, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023), and the Bears have won six national championships (2006, 2007, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023) amid his 25 seasons at the helm.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on X/ Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
Every game of the tournament will be live streamed on Overnght.com (subscription required). Live scoring will be provided for all games that feature the Tritons.
Game Information | Triton Invitational
No. 15 UC Santa Barbara
Game 1
· Date and Time: Saturday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. PT
· Location: La Jolla, CA | Canyonview Pool
· Live Stream: Overnght.com
No. 12 UC San Diego
Game 2
· Date and Time: Saturday, August 29, at 2:40 p.m. PT
· Location: La Jolla, CA | Triton Pool
· Live Stream: Overnght.com
· Live Stats: The Fosh
2026 PRESEASON POLLS
Both the CWP Preseason Poll and the MPSF Coaches' Poll shook out the same this year reflecting the final standings of 2025. The Golden Bears were picked to finish fourth in conference and nationally while reigning national champion UCLA was picked to threepeat. MPSF Champion and national runner-up USC was ranked second, and national semifinalist Stanford took third.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Bears return 18 members of last year's roster including its five top scorers who combined for 171 goals and 232 points in 2025. That group is led by sophomore Beso Akhvlediani who was named a Second Team All-American after leading Cal with 59 goals and 82 points while also becoming the program's first freshman First Team All-MPSF selection since 2019. On the defensive end Cal gets back sophomore goalkeeper Aran Pina who is fresh off a silver-medal finish as Spain's starter at the U-20 European Championships. Pina played in 21 of 23 games and compiled 166 saves and 29 steals.
2025 RECAP
Cal once again competed among the nation's elite during the 2025 season, facing one of the country's most demanding schedules in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and posting a 15-8 overall record. The Golden Bears battled a slate that featured every 2024 NCAA semifinalist and multiple top-10 opponents, highlighted by an impressive 13-11 victory over then-No. 2 USC. Individually, four Golden Bears earned ACWPC All-America recognition. Seniors Albert Ponferrada and Nik Mirkovic, along with freshman goalkeeper Aran Pina, received All-America honorable mention honors for their contributions throughout the season. The Bears also continued their tradition of academic excellence, placing multiple student-athletes on the MPSF All-Academic Team.
GOLDEN SUCCESS
The Bears have won 17 NCAA championships, including three in a row from 2021-2023, making Cal the winningest program in men's water polo history. During Kirk Everist's tenure as a head coach, he has been named the ACWPC National Coach of the Year five times (2006, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023), and the Bears have won six national championships (2006, 2007, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023) amid his 25 seasons at the helm.
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on X/ Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
Players Mentioned
ATT
/ Men's Water Polo
ATT
/ Men's Water Polo
GK
/ Men's Water Polo
A
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