Michigan to Travel to UC Irvine for Barbara Kalbus Invitational

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan water polo team (9-5) will head to the West Coast for the third time this season to take part in the Barbara Kalbus Invitational, hosted by UC Irvine, at the Anteater Aquatic Complex. U-M will start the three-day, four-game event with a matchup against hos UC Irvine on Friday (Feb. 23) at 2:30 p.m. PST. The result will determine the opponents and times for the remaining games over the weekend.

Notes

• The Wolverines went 3-0 at the Indiana Classic, knocking off Salem, Iona and California Baptist on Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 17-18). The Maize and Blue shined offensively, scoring at least 17 goals in all three wins.

• Kata Utassy continues to be the focal point of the Wolverine offense, tallying a team-high 53 points in 14 starts. Utassy's 35 goals ranks inside the top 10 in the country, and she has scored on more than half of her shot attempts.

• Freshman Emma Gustafsson led the way for the Michigan attack at the Indiana Classic, scoring eight goals and tallying four assists during the 3-0 weekend. The Greenwich, Conn., native ranks second on the team with 32 points and third with 19 goals.

• Libby Alsemgeest and Sammi Monroe are tied for third on the roster with 28 points. Alsemgeest has notched 22 goals and six assists while Monroe has registered 15 goals and 13 helpers. Alsemgeest has also drawn 72 exclusions in 14 games this season and is poised to break the single-season record (80) that she set in 2023.

• Four other freshmen have registered double-digit points already in 2024. Jillian Schlom leads the pack with 19 points, and Kaia Levenfeld has 17 points. Sophia Panossian and Jordan Schneider round out the group with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

• The goalies were stout in the Indiana Classic, collectively allowing nine goals or fewer in all three wins. Starter Alex Brown has logged 119 saves in 14 starts this season highlighted by four double-digit save games the last time she played in California.

• Friday will mark the second matchup with UC Irvine this season, with the Wolverines outlasting the Anteaters 13-12 on Feb. 3 at the Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif.