ORANGE, Calif. (Apr. 14, 2026) – Senior Alexandra Haluska (Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda) delivered a standout offensive performance and Whittier closed the game on a strong surge, but the Poets ultimately fell to No. 4 seed Chapman, 16-12, in the opening round of the SCIAC Tournament on Tuesday evening. This year marked the first time since 2021-22 that both Whittier men's and women's water polo teams made the SCIAC Postseason Tournament.

Chapman jumped out early, scoring six goals in the opening period and adding five more in the second to build a 11-3 halftime advantage. Despite the deficit, Whittier continued to battle, showing resilience against one of the conference's top teams.

Haluska led the charge offensively, finishing with five goals on eight shots while drawing six exclusions. The senior was active throughout, scoring from multiple spots in the pool and consistently putting pressure on the Panthers' defense. Her performance marked her third game this season with five or more goals.

The Poets began to find their rhythm in the second half, trading goals in the third quarter before turning in their strongest stretch of the night in the final frame. Whittier outscored Chapman 9-5 across the second half, including a 6-3 run in the fourth quarter to close the gap. Senior Paula Fernandez (Barcelona, Spain) added a well-rounded performance with two goals and three assists, while Maddy Mathewson (Hayward, Calif. / Moreau Catholic) contributed two goals, including the final score of the night off a well-placed feed from Haluska. Kayla Arias (Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda) also added a pair of goals, and Hayley Bradshaw (Anaheim, Calif. / Valencia) chipped in with a goal of her own.

Defensively, Whittier forced eight steals, with multiple players contributing to the effort, while goalkeeper Aubrie Kirkby Tatro (San Luis Obispo, Calif. / Arroyo Grande) recorded three saves in the cage. Despite the result, the Poets showed composure and fight down the stretch, responding with one of their most productive offensive halves against a top-four opponent and carrying momentum through the final whistle.

Head Coach Preslav Djippov and the Poets conclude the 2026 season with a 6-21 overall record and a 5-8 mark in SCIAC play, earning a postseason appearance and showcasing continued growth against top conference competition.

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