VISTA, Calif. --- The Western Water Polo Association released its 2023 preseason poll on Tuesday, ranking the seven teams based on the votes from the coaches across the league. Biola came out on top being named the favorites to win the conference.

The WWPA went through a conference realignment over the summer with significant shifts in the member teams. Four teams joined from the east coast, while six left over the offseason. The realignment reflected similarly to the format of the women's side of the WWPA with the east side consisting of Mercyhurst, Salem, Gannon, and McKendree but the west side varying slightly with Biola, Concordia, and Fresno Pacific.

In the preseason poll, the Eagles tallied four first place votes and 34 total points. Biola water polo led second place by five points, while ranking above the six other teams. Salem was the runner up in the poll with Concordia and Fresno Pacific following in third and fourth.

BU men's water polo will enter its third year as a program in 2023. Head coach Rick Nordell and the Eagles reached its highest position in the preseason poll on Tuesday.

The team returned 20 student-athletes, including multiple award-winning standouts. BU is coming off a marked improvement, posting 15 wins last season and will look to improve on that in 2023. 

The BU squad will kick off its campaign at the Triton Invitational on Saturday in La Jolla, California.