UC Santa Barbara’s Daily Nexus reported on Tuesday that the university had put out an emergency alert announcing the cancelation of the remainder of the UCSB Women’s Water Polo season, effective immediately. Ten student-athletes on the women’s team have tested positive for COVID-19 and the entire team is self-isolating.
“It is unfortunate that we needed to take this action,” said UCSB Director of Athletics John McCutcheon. “But circumstances forced our decision. We will continue to support the team as we progress through this difficult situation.”
The Gauchos have already played eight games on their 2020-21 schedule and were scheduled to host the University of Hawai’i on Sunday. UCSB women have a record of 3 wins and 5 losses so far this season, and rank fifth in the Big West Conference as of today. Cal State Northridge’s players opted out of the 2021 season due to COVID concerns.
2021 Big West Conference Women’s Water Polo Standings (as of 4/7/2021)
| SCHOOL | CONF | CPCT. | OVERALL | PCT. | HOME | AWAY | NEUTRAL | STREAK |
| UC San Diego | 2-0 | 1.000 | 7-3 | 0.700 | 6-1 | 1-2 | 0-0 | W3 |
| UC Davis | 2-1 | 0.667 | 8-4 | 0.667 | 5-2 | 3-2 | 0-0 | W3 |
| UC Irvine | 1-1 | 0.500 | 9-3 | 0.750 | 5-1 | 4-2 | 0-0 | W3 |
| Hawaii | 1-1 | 0.500 | 3-1 | 0.750 | 2-0 | 1-1 | 0-0 | W3 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 1-1 | 0.500 | 3-5 | 0.375 | 1-1 | 2-4 | 0-0 | L3 |
| Long Beach State | 0-3 | 0.000 | 0-6 | 0.000 | 0-1 | 0-5 | 0-0 | L6 |
The announcement marked the COVID outbreak in a UCSB intercollegiate athletics team and the first sport to be canceled this spring. The Big West had canceled fall sports for the 2020-21 school year but winter and spring sports have been carried out with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
2021 UCSB Women’s Water Polo Schedule
| FEBRUARY | |||||
| SAT27 | UCSB | at | No. 17 San Diego State | Final | W, 10-9 |
| SAT27 | UCSB | at | No. 17 San Diego State | Final | W, 5-4 |
| MARCH | |||||
| SAT06 | UCSB | at | No. 5 Cal | Final | L, 11-10 |
| SAT13 | UCSB | at | No. 1 USC | Final | L, 21-3 |
| SUN21 | UCSB | vs | No. 11 UC Davis * | Final | W, 12-10 |
| SUN21 | UCSB | vs | No. 11 UC Davis | Final | L, 11-9 |
| FRI26 | UCSB | at | UC San Diego * | Final – OT | L, 7-6 |
| SAT27 | UCSB | at | UC San Diego | Final | L, 6-5 |
| APRIL | |||||
| SUN11 | UCSB | vs | Hawai’i * | Cancelled | |
| FRI23 | UCSB | at | Long Beach State * | Cancelled | |
| SAT24 | UCSB | at | Long Beach State | Cancelled | |
| * Conference |
Looks like the team just finished a travel meet. Did they travel by van, bus or fly? Either way, chances of getting Covid are high. It’s a shame, but I understand the AD’s decision.
Heard they had a party (aka superspreader event).