Anteaters capture first Big West tourney title

STOCKTON — The UC Irvine women’s water polo team captured the inaugural Big West Conference Tournament title by defeating UC Santa Barbara, 13-9, in the title game Sunday at the University of the Pacific.

Sophomore Cortney Collyer and junior Kat Plummer scored three goals apiece to lead the No. 10-ranked Anteaters, who were tri-champions of the conference in the regular-season, but lost a coin flip and entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed.

Senior Gianna Rossi was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after scoring six goals, including two game-winning goals, in three tournament wins.

The Anteaters finish 23-9, setting a school single-season record for victories.

Rossi’s 67 goals this season were a school record and she finishes her career with 192, third all-time in UCI annals.

Senior Julia Fancher, who scored 49 goals this season, ranks fifth on the school career scoring list with 143, while Plummer, who had 48 goals in her junior campaign, sits seventh (97).

Freshman Morgan Vickers, a Newport Harbor High product, had five saves in the title match for Coach Dan Klatt’s Anteaters.

Senior Sarah Frost and junior Erin Kiene had two goals apiece against the No. 17-ranked Gauchos.

Sophomore Caitlin Haskell, Rossi and Fancher had one goal apiece in the final.

UCI topped UC Davis in the semifinals, after eliminating Long Beach State in the first round.

— From staff reports