Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Jumps to No. 13 in National Rankings
9/5/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 5, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Thanks to an impressive 10-5 victory over then-No. 13 Pacific as well as a strong showing against No. 2 California, the Bucknell men's water polo team ascended to No. 13 in the national rankings when the top-20 poll was released Wednesday. The Bison had been ranked 18th in the preseason poll.
Bucknell's current ranking is the highest it has been in an in-season poll since 1985 when it climbed to No. 12. That year also marked the most recent NCAA appearance for the Bison, who have advanced to the NCAA Tournament five times. The last time Bucknell was higher than its current No. 13 in any poll was in 1994 when it was ninth in the NCAA Collegiate Water Polo College Coaches Preseason Poll.
The Bison had a strong showing at the Navy Labor Day Open this past weekend as they opened the 2007 campaign. The highlight of the weekend was that 10-5 win over Pacific, which fell to No. 16. The victory was the first-ever for Bucknell over a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation squad, having gone into the game with an 0-35 mark when playing the nine teams from the conference that includes the top seven teams in the nation.
Prior to the win against Pacific, the Bison had played Cal tough, leading 3-2 after the first quarter, before falling 11-7.
Bucknell (2-1) rounded out the weekend with an easy 17-1 victory over Queens on Sunday.
In addition to its national ranking, Bucknell stands third in the CWPA Top-10 Poll, trailing only Navy and St. Francis (N.Y.).
The Bison will be in action at the Princeton Invitational this weekend as they face Fordham, Iona, Mercyhurst and Queens during the two-day event.
