2012 MPSF Preseason Women's Water Polo Coaches' Poll
Jan. 10, 2012
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Defending National Champion Stanford collected the maximum possible 49 points and seven first place votes in winning the 2012 Preseason MPSF Women's Water Polo Coaches' poll for the third consecutive year. The Cardinal returns goalkeeper Kate Baldoni, along with drivers Alyssa Lo (All-MPSF), Kaley Dodson (All-MPSF Newcomer), and Pallavi Menon from its 28-1 NCAA Title team a year ago. Defending MPSF Tournament Champion and NCAA Runner-Up California placed second in the poll with 39 points and one first place vote. Three All-Americans are back for the Bears in Dana Ochsner, Breda Vosters, and Ashley Young, in addition to MPSF All-Newcomer Kelly Mendoza. USC earned 35 points to finish third in the poll, as All-MPSF selections Patricia Jancso and Nadia Dan return, as well as goalkeeper Flora Bolonyai. UCLA, who tied for third in the final standings with USC a year ago, placed fourth with 34 points. Two-time All-MPSF Honoree Caitlin Dement is back in the Bruin cage, as is 2011 all-conference selection KK Clark. Arizona State was fifth with 27 points, the highest finish for the Sun Devils in the history of the preseason poll. San Jose State collected 18 points for sixth, followed by San Diego State (15) and Hawaii (7). The first official sprint to the 2012 season is Saturday, January 21, as San Jose State and the University of Michigan each host tournaments. The first MPSF Conference game takes place on February 2, when Hawaii visits California. The MPSF Championship Tournament will be hosted by Stanford, April 27-29, with the winner of that event automatically qualifying for the NCAA Tournament at San Diego State, May 11-13.
| Rank | Team | Points (First Place) | 2011 Record/Conference Finish |
| 1 | Stanford | 49 (7) | 28-1 overall; 7-0 MPSF/#1 (NCAA Champ |
| 2 | California | 39 (1) | 26-5 overall; 6-1 MPSF/#2 (MPSF Champion) |
| 3 | USC | 35 | 19-8 overall; 4-3 MPSF/#3T |
| 4 | UCLA | 34 | 26-7 overall; 4-3 MPSF/#3T |
| 5 | Arizona State | 27 | 12-14 overall; 0-7 MPSF/#8 |
| 6 | San Jose State | 18 | 21-13 overall; 2-5 MPSF/#6 |
| 7 | San Diego State | 15 | 20-15 overall; 1-6 MPSF/#7 |
| 8 | Hawaii | 7 | 18-9 overall; 4-3 MPSF/#3T |