SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay women's water polo team kicks off the official start to the 2014 season Saturday, Jan. 11, by hosting San Jose State for a 1 p.m. match at The Otter Tank on the CSUMB campus.
 
With only eight returners from last year's squad and no seniors, Head Coach Gary Figueroa expects to see some surprises with the team's 10 newcomers on board.
 
"With inexperience comes surprises which makes for excitement," Figueroa said. "As we grow together and mature, playing better and better will become our source for excitement. Count on this team to do just that."
 
The Spartans of San Jose State feature six foreign players along with a solid base of homegrown talent and experience.
 
"San Jose will be a great measure for us to understand more about ourselves," Figueroa said. "At the same time, we will have success against them which will help us identify our strengths."
 
Other changes that will have an impact on this season are the exit of Loyola Marymount, Colorado State and Santa Clara in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA).  Despite only five teams remaining in the WWPA (Sonoma State, Cal State East Bay, UC San Diego, Cal State San Bernardino and, of course, CSUMB), the conference still holds an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship featuring teams from NCAA Division I, II & III.  Figueroa states that the WWPA is looking to add teams in the near future.
 
Saturday's game, as well as the six remaining home games, will be streamed live on OtterAthletics.com.