Photo by: Luiza Moraes
Long Beach State Picked To Finish First In Big West Conference; Gabi Acosta And Caleb Francisco Named To Preseason Team
8/22/2025 12:05:00 PM | Men's Water Polo
For the second year in a row, Long Beach State earned the most votes in the conference poll.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – After a fantastic 2024 campaign where Long Beach State took home the Big West Championship trophy after defeating UC San Diego 10-8, the team is picked for the second year in a row to finish first in the conference as the league announced in its Preseason Coaches Poll this Friday.
Long Beach State earned five votes for first place, while the Tritons received only one vote to finish in first. UC Irvine was picked for third, with UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara following them. Cal State Fullerton wrapped up the poll in sixth.
Along with the Preseason Poll, the Big West Conference also released the All-Big West Team, where sophomore Gabi Acosta and junior Caleb Francisco were selected to the eight-player team.
Acosta comes from an incredible freshman year, being named Second Team All-America by the ACWPC along with Player and Freshman of the Year honors by the league. The sophomore center led the team with 64 goals.
Francisco was a crucial player for the Beach last season. The junior led the team in goals in the Big West Championships and had a career-high six goals against UC Santa Barbara in the quarterfinal match.
The Beach will start their 2025 season at the Triton Invite on August 29 against Occidental at 10:50 a.m. in La Jolla, Calif.
2025 Big West Men's Water Polo Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
Long Beach State earned five votes for first place, while the Tritons received only one vote to finish in first. UC Irvine was picked for third, with UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara following them. Cal State Fullerton wrapped up the poll in sixth.
Along with the Preseason Poll, the Big West Conference also released the All-Big West Team, where sophomore Gabi Acosta and junior Caleb Francisco were selected to the eight-player team.
Acosta comes from an incredible freshman year, being named Second Team All-America by the ACWPC along with Player and Freshman of the Year honors by the league. The sophomore center led the team with 64 goals.
Francisco was a crucial player for the Beach last season. The junior led the team in goals in the Big West Championships and had a career-high six goals against UC Santa Barbara in the quarterfinal match.
The Beach will start their 2025 season at the Triton Invite on August 29 against Occidental at 10:50 a.m. in La Jolla, Calif.
2025 Big West Men's Water Polo Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | Institution | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Long Beach State | 29 (5) |
| 2. | UC San Diego | 20 (1) |
| 3. | UC Irvine | 18 |
| 4. | UC Davis | 13 |
| 5. | UC Santa Barbara | 9 |
| 6. | Cal State Fullerton | 6 |
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