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University of the Pacific

Ella Cowan

No. 19 Pacific Opens Season at Home Thursday & Friday

STOCKTON, Calif. – For the first time since 2020, the No. 19 Pacific women's water polo program will begin the season at home as it welcomes Fresno Pacific at 6 p.m. Thursday and UC Merced in a 5 p.m. exhibition Friday at the Eberhardt Aquatics Center.
 
The Tigers are coming off a 14-10 season and 5-2 in conference where they finished third in the Golden Coast Conference standings. They were predicted to place third in the 2026 GCC Preseason Poll, and their No. 19 ranking is the third-highest in the conference.
 
The Tigers return a strong core of juniors that includes Ella Cowan, Anna Crum and Alicia Petkov who combined for 97 goals last season. Starting goalkeeper Maja Lizy Dulic returns for her junior season after playing nearly the entire way in net for Pacific last year.
 
Pacific will be without two-time All-American Dora Alaksza this season, who will sit out and use her final year of eligibility in 2027. Alaksza led the team with 95 goals last season, the second-most in program history.
 
The Tigers brought in nine newcomers and also welcomed back junior Noemi Alaksza who sat out last season. Noemi registered 13 goals and 13 assists in her sophomore campaign in 2024.
 
Fresno Pacific has already played two games this season, falling to UC Davis 28-1 and Santa Clara 19-7. The Sunbirds, who compete at the NCAA Division II level, were 14-13 overall last year.
 
Pacific is 20-0 all-time against FPU. The Tigers won last season 13-5 at home.
 
The exhibition against UC Merced offers free admission for all. Last season, the two teams met at a neutral site in Davis, California and Pacific won 16-4.
 

Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474.  Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.

Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific women's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Women's Water Polo).
 
#PacificProud
 
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