U-M Downs No. 17 UC Davis, McKendree to Open Midwest Invite

Saturday, February 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:15 PM

Michigan

4-6

UC Davis

6-8

UC Davis

Michigan

Harriet Dickens (Michigan Photography)

U-M Downs No. 17 UC Davis, McKendree to Open Midwest Invite

2/14/2026 6:49:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Boxscore (UC Davis)PDF Boxscore (McKendree)Tournament Central Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Kaylie Karsch

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan water polo team (5-6) opened the Midwest Invite at Canham Natatorium with a strong showing on Saturday, Feb. 14, sweeping both opponents. The Wolverines edged No. 17 UC Davis in a 14-13 victory to start the day. They closed out the home opener with authority -- a 20-6 win over McKendree to complete the sweep.

#16 Michigan 14, #17 UC Davis 13

The game was capped off by Brooke Ingram, sealing the win for the Wolverines with a game-clinching block. U-M started the fourth quarter with four back-to-back goals from Emilia Mladjan, Emma Gustafsson, Harriet Dickens and Ari Karampetsou.

The game opened with multiple back-and-forth goals between the Wolverines and the Aggies, closing out the first frame 3-3. After conceding one goal to start, U-M pulled away in the second and third quarters -- with Karampetsou and Dickens each notching two scores. Kaia Levenfeld was mixed in with the goalscorers, breaking away from the Aggie defense and tossing a wide-open shot past the keeper.

U-M was matched by the Aggie offense, and after one more toss in the back of the net from Karampetsou, the third quarter ended with a 9-9 tie.

The Wolverines held on in the final frame, securing the one-goal win to complete back-to-back victories over UC Davis this season.

#16 Michigan 20, McKendree 6

The victory was powered by an impressive showing from U-M's freshman class, many of whom scored their first goals in the Maize and Blue. Bailee Swindells led the way, netting six goals -- including a streak of three consecutive scores in the second half.

After starting the game with three straight from the Wolverines, Emma Gustafsson responded to a McKendree goal, firing the ball into the back corner of the goal with just 0:11 seconds left in the first frame. Michigan started the second quarter notching two more off penalty shots -- one coming from Kaia Levenfeld and the other being Swindells' first tally of the day.

After adding a few more goals to close out the first half, the Wolverines picked up steam in the second. Swindells scored two more, while Ryland Smith added another in the third. Michigan then went on a 9-0 run to close out the game. Freshmen Maya Mladjan and Sydney Brandvold each notched their first career goals, both assisted by Smith.

The Wolverines will continue to play in the Midwest Invite, taking on Mercyhurst Sunday (Feb. 15) at 8 a.m. and Mount St. Mary's at 1:45 p.m. Both matchups will be streamed live on Overnght.