Who: No. 4 California (4-0)
When: Saturday at 9 a.m.
Where: Campus pool, UC Santa Barbara
Need to know: Long Beach State has lost six of its last seven meetings with the Golden Bears dating back to 2005. California also owns an all-time record of 14-7 against the 49ers.
Former All-Americans Dora Antal, Roser Tarrago and Anna Illes are redshirting this season to train with their national teams, but driver Pippa Saunders has stuck around for her senior season. Saunders leads the Golden Bears with seven goals so far, followed by sophomore Carla Carrega and junior Emily Loughlin with six goals each.
Who: No. 8 San Jose State (3-1)
When: Saturday at 3 p.m.
Where: Recreational center pool, UC Santa Barbara
Need to know: The Spartans have won eight straight games against the 49ers dating back to 2006 and have a 16-7 all-time record against LBSU. The 49ers’ last victory against the Spartans came on March 5, 2005; a 6-3 win at home.
SJSU finished 21-10 last season to complete its second consecutive 20-win season for the first time ever.
Senior Rae Lekness and junior Cara Robinson are the only two returning starters this season, but Lekness already has 16 goals in just the first four games. Freshman driver Carla Toha Vilanova ranks second with seven goals and Robinson comes in third with four.
Who: No. 2 UCLA
When: Sunday at 10 a.m.
Where: Recreational center pool, UC Santa Barbara
Need to know: The 49ers have never won against the Bruins in their 17 year history; LBSU owns an all-time record of 0-22 against UCLA.
The Bruins have the most NCAA National Championships with seven titles. UCLA won five straight championships from 2005-09, but have not won a single title since. However, the Bruins did finish runner-up the past two seasons.
Seniors Rachel Fattal, Kodi Hill and Alys Williams are all redshirting to train with the United States National Team, but UCLA does return 12 players from its near-championship run last year. One of those players is utility Mackenzie Barr, who ranked fourth on the team with 35 goals last season.
Who: No. 20 Wagner
When: Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
Where: Recreational center pool, UC Santa Barbara
Need to know: Wagner and LBSU have only met in the pool twice, with each team taking home a win. The teams first met in 2012; a 16-6 LBSU win. The last time they faced each other Wagner took home the narrow 5-3 victory.
The Seahawks are coming off winning their second consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and they return four of their five leading scorers, including 2015 MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Jess Lundgren. The senior center netted 116 goals last season, good for most all-time in Wagner history.
Other players returning include seniors Megan Rodriguez and Lily Doerfler. Rodriguez is Wagner’s all-time leader in assists with 274 and Doerfler finished second on the team last year with 60 goals. 2015 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Emily Riddle, also returns to the Seahawks for her junior season.
