STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford has been selected fourth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) men's water polo preseason coaches' poll.
Last season's MPSF regular-season champions, Stanford was picked fourth behind defending NCAA champion UCLA, NCAA runner-up USC, and California. Penn State Behrend was selected fifth and newcomer Austin College was picked sixth.
The Cardinal finished 19-5 and ranked fourth in the final Collegiate Water Polo Association poll in 2017. Stanford defeated California, 11-10, in last year's Big Splash to secure a share of the 2017 MPSF regular-season title and the top-seed in the MPSF Tournament.
Stanford will present a different look this fall, with 10 letterwinners from last year's team graduated following the 2017 campaign, including five All-Americans.
The Cardinal's top two scorers from 2017 return in Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America selections Ben Hallock and Blake Parrish. Hallock, a First Team All-American, also captured MPSF Newcomer of the Year honors along with all-conference laurels in his first year of competition. The two-meter player led the team and finished third in the MPSF in scoring with 56 goals. He scored at least one goal in every match he played in, averaging 2.45 goals per contest. Parrish, an ACWPC Honorable Mention All-American, posted 38 goals as a junior last season and enters the 2018 campaign as Stanford's active career scoring leader with 110 goals.
Dunlevie Family Director of Men's Water Polo, John Vargas, begins his 17th season on The Farm in 2018. He has directed the Cardinal to a 322-102 record that includes the 2002 NCAA title in his stellar career as the leader of the Stanford program.
Stanford opens the season in Santa Clara on Saturday, Sept. 1, playing both San Jose State and host Santa Clara at 9:00 a.m. PT and 10:30 a.m. PT, respectively.
The Cardinal will also face Santa Clara in its first match at Avery Aquatic Center this season, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 a.m. PT. The first MPSF match of the season will be Oct. 6 when USC visits Stanford.