U-M to Host Michigan Invitational This Weekend

Promotions: Pride Day - Saturday (March 23) vs. Long Beach State, 5 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After a three-week hiatus, the No. 9-ranked University of Michigan water polo team will return to action when it hosts the Michigan Invitational on Saturday and Sunday (March 23-24) inside Canham Natatorium. The Wolverines will take on the University of Toronto and No. 8-ranked Long Beach on Saturday (March 23) at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, and will face CWPA rival Bucknell and UC Merced at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday (March 24). All of the weekend's matches will be streamed live on Overnght.com.

Notes

• Last time out, U-M posted a 2-1 record in three conference matchups (March 2-3) at DeNunzio Pool in Princeton, N.J. The Wolverines fell to then-No. 10 Princeton but tallied wins over Brown and Harvard who were tied for No. 19 in the CWPA rankings at the time. Michigan now owns seven ranked wins on the season.

• Two players earned national acclaim on Wednesday (March 13) as Libby Alsemgeest and Kata Utassy were both named to Peter J. Cutino Award Watchlist. Alsemgeest and Utassy were two of just 22 players across the country to land on the list.

• Utassy continues to lead the Wolverines on the offensive end of the pool. The senior paces the Maize and Blue in every attack category including goals (49), assists (28) and points (77). Utassy is in the midst of five-game scoring streak and has tallied at least one point in every start this season.

• Alison Lock has shown balance on offense for the Wolverines. Lock has scored 19 goals and dished out 19 assists for a total of 38 points, good for second on the team. Lock has notched exactly three points in each of her last five games dating back to the Barbara Kalbus Invitational in February.

• Goalie Alex Brown holds an impressive 197 saves this season and a .546 save percentage, starting each game for the Wolverines in goal this season. Particularly strong in-conference, she holds a 3-1 record and .624 save percentage.

• Sammi Monroe has been a consistent scorer for the Wolverines all season with 18 goals along with 18 assists. Monroe scored in each of the Conference Crossover series games including in clutch moments to push the Wolverines past Brown and Harvard.

• Alsemgeest has scored 31 goals this season, including 15 total in the Wolverine Invitational, the last time the team played in Ann Arbor. Alsemgeest has reached 101 drawn exclusions and 17 total steals. The senior notched two goals in Princeton, N.J., with one each against Princeton and Harvard.

• Michigan holds an undefeated 29-0 record all-time against Bucknell. The Wolverines defeated the Bison in both of their matchups last season by scores of 12-1 and 16-3.

• Michigan holds a total record of 8-10 against No. 7 Long Beach State. The Wolverines look to bounce back after a narrow 10-9 loss to The Beach last season.

• The Wolverines will face both UC Merced and University of Toronto for the first time in program history.