Michigan Upended by Third-Ranked USC in Convergence Tournament

Friday, March 6

Claremont, Calif.

2:00 PM PT

Michigan

USC

Michigan

Southern California

Riley Chapple (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Upended by Third-Ranked USC in Convergence Tournament

3/6/2026 7:21:00 PM | Water Polo

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Kaylie Karsch

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan water polo team was upended by No. 3-ranked USC, 25-9, on Friday (March 6) at Haldeman Pool. Emilia Mladjan recorded her first hat trick of the season, while Ari Karampetsou added three goals for the Wolverines.

Michigan (13-8) opened the game with momentum as Mladjan scored back-to-back goals just over a minute into the contest before converting on a power play off a pass from Emma Gustafsson three minutes later. However, USC (14-2) responded with nine first-quarter goals to take a 9-3 lead after one.

Karampetsou netted her first goal of the match in the second quarter on a power play. Mixed in with four Trojan goals, Kaia Levenfeld added Michigan's fifth score as USC extended its advantage to 13-5 heading into halftime.

Karampetsou converted a penalty shot for Michigan's lone goal of the third quarter. She added another in the fourth, while Gustafsson got on the board with a late score and Levenfeld tallied her second of the game.

Issy Jackson and Claire Eusey each drew multiple exclusions, with Jackson drawing four and Eusey three, to support the Wolverines defensively. Sophia Bunnell finished with 13 saves, two shy of her career high.

Michigan will continue competition at the Convergence Tournament, facing Cal State Fullerton on Saturday (March 7) at 9:45 a.m. PT at Titan Aquatics Center.