LA MIRADA --- With the 2026 season set to begin, the WWPA released its preseason coaches' poll with Biola Men's Water Polo picked to finish second.

The Eagles received 30 points and one first-place vote in the poll, trailing defending WWPA champion Concordia, which earned 35 points and five first-place votes. Salem was picked third with 25 points and the remaining first-place vote.

Biola enters the season after advancing to the WWPA Championship match in 2025 and finishing as the conference runner-up. The Eagles finished the year 10-21 overall in head coach Jens Cole's first season at the helm.

Cole enters his second season with 15 returners from last year's squad. Among those returning is sophomore attacker Noah Ryznar, who earned a spot on the WWPA All-Freshman Team in 2025, along with redshirt senior utility Kyle Seifen.

2026 Schedule
Biola's 2026 slate features 30 regular-season matches, including six WWPA contests. The Eagles open the season on August 28 at the UCI Invitational, where they will face George Washington and Chapman before returning to La Mirada the following day for the Biola Round Robin. Biola will scrimmage Saddleback before facing Whittier in its first regular-season home match.

The Eagles' non-conference schedule includes trips to the Pepperdine Round Robin, Inland Empire Classic, Titan Invite, Air Force Rare Air Invitational and Gary Troyer Tournament. Biola will also travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts for four matches at the Harvard Invitational in October.

WWPA play begins on October 9 at Fresno Pacific before the Eagles travel to UC Merced the following day. Biola will face Fresno Pacific, UC Merced and Concordia twice during conference play, including a home matchup with defending WWPA champion Concordia on October 22.

Biola will close out the regular season at UC San Diego on November 12 before returning home to host the WWPA Championships. The WWPA Championships are scheduled for November 20-22 at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center.

Meet the Newcomers
Biola welcomes 13 newcomers to its 2026 roster, adding two transfers and 11 freshmen to its 15-player returning group.

The Eagles' two transfers are sophomore goalkeeper Igor Pinheiro from Orange Coast College and junior utility Jayden Rose from Saddleback College.

Biola's incoming freshman class features goalkeeper Maddox Levandusky, center defender Kacper Landowski, utility Gavin Starling, center defender Landon Heuer, defender Aiden Ortiz and attackers Myles Long, Ryder Imbriani, Micah Hernandez, Asher Brunner, Ayden Cisneros and Carson Crocket.

"I could not be more proud of the group of newcomers the coaching staff and I welcomed in," stated Cole. "Our staff worked hard to evaluate, create connections, and bring in a great group of players but an even better group of people. They are incredibly coachable, detail-oriented, and extremely competitive individuals. They have all immediately added to the culture of the program and to our standard."

Cole concluded, "I appreciate how many different areas of the country and world are represented in this class. From Brazil, to Poland, to Texas, and all over California, this is extremely dynamic and unique. I'm confident this class will add an immediate impact to the competitiveness and continuity of our program for years to come!"