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UCI women ranked No. 6

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The UC Irvine women’s water polo team is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll as it enters its season opener on Saturday at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Classic.

Coach Dan Klatt’s Anteaters open the tournament against Cal Baptist at 10:40 a.m. They take on San Jose State at 3:20 on Saturday.

On Sunday, UCI faces Cal State Monterey Bay at 9:30 a.m. and No. 4-ranked Arizona State at 1:50 p.m.

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UCI was 21-9 last season, when they earned a share of the Big West Conference regular-season title, but failed to make the NCAA Tournament.

Returning senior Hannah Croghan led the 2013 team with 42 goals and 49 steals, while goalkeeper Jillian Yocum, now a junior, had 269 saves last season.

Also back for the ‘Eaters are seniors Jessy Cardey and Annika Bergesen, as well as junior Danielle Warde, all of whom redshirted last season. Cardey’s 158 career goals rank No. 4 in school history and she scored a school single-season record 74 as a sophomore in 2012, when she was the Big West Player of the Year, as well as Most Valuable Player of the conference tournament. She has twice made the NCAA All-Tournament team.

Warde had 98 goals in her first two seasons at UCI, while Bergesen is a transfer from Golden West Community College.

— From staff reports

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