Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, May 12
Los Angeles, Calif.
1 P.M. PT
Fresno State
vs
Cal Lutheran
No. 11 Fresno State opens NCAA Tournament against Cal Lutheran
5/11/2021 3:17:00 PM | Water Polo
2021 NCAA Tournament (May 12-16) • Los Angeles, Calif. (Spieker Aquatics Center)
vs. Cal Lutheran  •  Opening Round  • Wed., May 12 • 1:00 p.m. PTÂ
Live Stats | Live Stream | Tournament CentralÂ
Follow:Â @FresnoStateWPÂ on Twitter for live updates.
Â
The No. 11 Fresno State water polo team will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history on Wednesday against Cal Lutheran at 1 p.m.
10 teams will be contending for the 2021 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship. The championship will be hosted by UCLA, held at the Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles and streamed live on the PAC 12 Network.
The Bulldogs earned the first automatic bid in program history after winning the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Championship.
BULLDOG BITES
SCOUTING THE REGALS
Cal Lutheran (5-0) earned its automatic bid after winning the SCIAC Championship Tournament. The Regals are no strangers to the NCAA Tournament, as they also earned the conference automatic bid in 2019.Â
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs own the all-time series against the Regals, 2-0. Fresno State defeated Cal Lutheran in 2019 at the Tina Finali Invitational and at the Bulldog Invite 20-4 in 2020.Â
FRESNO STATE SEASON REVIEW
Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-5 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the GCC regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, the Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. The five selections are the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in a single season in program history.
Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team.
BENSON NAMED GCC COACH OF THE YEAR
Fresno State water polo coach Natalie Benson was named the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year. The award was voted on by the eight GCC head coaches.Â
Benson was named the inaugural head coach of the program in 2016, and the Bulldogs opened competition for the first time in 2018. She truly grew the program from the ground up based on the values of pride, preparation, focus, fight and win. Fresno State has increased its win total in conference play each year under the leadership of Benson.
Benson has led the Bulldogs to their first regular season GCC Championship, GCC Tournament Title and NCAA bid. In just its fourth year of competition, Fresno State has recorded a historic season and it's not over yet.
The winner of the contest between the Bulldogs and the Regals will face Stanford (12-5) on Friday, May 14.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â FresnoStateWP
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
vs. Cal Lutheran  •  Opening Round  • Wed., May 12 • 1:00 p.m. PTÂ
Live Stats | Live Stream | Tournament CentralÂ
Follow:Â @FresnoStateWPÂ on Twitter for live updates.
Â
The No. 11 Fresno State water polo team will make its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history on Wednesday against Cal Lutheran at 1 p.m.
10 teams will be contending for the 2021 National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship. The championship will be hosted by UCLA, held at the Spieker Aquatics Center in Los Angeles and streamed live on the PAC 12 Network.
The Bulldogs earned the first automatic bid in program history after winning the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Championship.
BULLDOG BITES
- Fresno State is ranked No. 11.
- Fresno State has been ranked inside the Top 15 for 12 consecutive weeks.
- Fresno State owns an overall record of 12-5 (6-1 GCC).
- Fresno State is the 2021 GCC Tournament Champion.
- The Bulldogs also took a piece of the GCC regular season championship, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific.
- Fresno State has won eight out of the last nine games.
- Fresno State has outscored its opponents 263-179, and is averaging 15.5 goals per game.
- Fresno State has four players that have scored 20+ goals this season.
- Daphne Guevremont has reached the 30+ goal mark this season, chalking 37.
- Fresno State has had three different goalkeepers record minutes. The unit has recorded .410 save percentage.
- Junior Hope Stokes has recorded the most minutes in goal for the Bulldogs. Stokes has recorded 71 saves and a .497 save percentage.Â
SCOUTING THE REGALS
Cal Lutheran (5-0) earned its automatic bid after winning the SCIAC Championship Tournament. The Regals are no strangers to the NCAA Tournament, as they also earned the conference automatic bid in 2019.Â
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs own the all-time series against the Regals, 2-0. Fresno State defeated Cal Lutheran in 2019 at the Tina Finali Invitational and at the Bulldog Invite 20-4 in 2020.Â
FRESNO STATE SEASON REVIEW
Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 12-5 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the GCC regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, the Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. The five selections are the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in a single season in program history.
Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.
The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team.
BENSON NAMED GCC COACH OF THE YEAR
Fresno State water polo coach Natalie Benson was named the 2021 Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year. The award was voted on by the eight GCC head coaches.Â
Benson was named the inaugural head coach of the program in 2016, and the Bulldogs opened competition for the first time in 2018. She truly grew the program from the ground up based on the values of pride, preparation, focus, fight and win. Fresno State has increased its win total in conference play each year under the leadership of Benson.
Benson has led the Bulldogs to their first regular season GCC Championship, GCC Tournament Title and NCAA bid. In just its fourth year of competition, Fresno State has recorded a historic season and it's not over yet.
The winner of the contest between the Bulldogs and the Regals will face Stanford (12-5) on Friday, May 14.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â FresnoStateWP
Instagram:Â FresnoStateWP
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Players Mentioned
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/ Water Polo
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/ Water Polo
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