UCI repeats in Big West

After a 13-7 loss to UC Santa Barbara on April 3, the UC Irvine women’s water polo team was 9-13 and 0-2 in the Big West Conference.

Few knew, however, the Anteaters were right where they wanted to be.

Coach Dan Klatt’s team proved just that, however, winning six of its final seven games, including three over the weekend to repeat as Big West tournament champions.

UCI, the No. 4 seed, knocked off top-seeded Pacific, 10-7, in Saturday’s semifinals, then topped No. 2-seeded Cal State Northridge, 12-11, in Sunday’s title game.

Freshman Jessy Cardey, who scored six goals in the tournament, was named MVP of the event.

“I think she was the X factor,” Klatt said of Cardey, who was named NCAA.com Player of the Week.

Junior Cortney Collyer also had six goals in the tournament and finished the season with a team-best 43 goals.

Sophomore Morgan Vickers was the hot hand at goalie for UCI, Klatt said. The Newport Harbor High product had 22 saves in three games.

UCI’s tournament win may have been a surprise to some. But Klatt was not among them.

“When I came into the office on April 19, I told everyone ‘We’re going to win this weekend,’ ” Klatt said. “I just liked the team’s attitude the last couple weeks. [The players] wanted to win. It was a big deal to them. It was our goal from the beginning.”

Back-to-back tournament titles establishes UCI (15-14) as the preeminent program in the Big West, formed two years ago. Next season, the Big West Tournament champion will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

UCI seniors Kat Plummer (31 goals) and Erin Kiene (26) earned praise for their leadership from Klatt.

Junior Caitlin Haskell (41 goals) was also a standout this season and one of many returners who figure to make the Anteaters strong next season.

Klatt, who completed his sixth season as head coach at UCI, was named an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s national team on Monday.

— Barry Faulkner