March 24, 2017
With a two-match winning streak in hand, San Jose State University returns to Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) women's water polo action taking on conference co-leader University of Southern California, Saturday, March 25. The match at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center begins at 1:00 p.m.
The Spartans (9-13, 0-1 MPSF) recently defeated #20-Harvard, 5-3, on March 17. Recently, San Jose State is relying heavily on its defense for wins in three of its last five matches. Opponents scored at a 5.4 goals per match rate and the Spartans allowed just four power-play goals on 41 chances.
The defense will be tested by a USC team (21-0, 1-0 MPSF) in the midst of a NCAA record 49-match winning streak. The Trojans lead the MPSF in team scoring averaging 16.33 goals per match, scored at least nine goals in every match, and 20 or more goals six times this season.
Stephania Haralabidis is the MPSF's leading scorer with 63. No other player in the MPSF even has 40 goals. Her twin sister, Ioanna, has 39 goals and ranks ninth in the conference in goals scored per match.
Sophomore Carla Toha Vilanova leads the Spartans with 32 goals and a 1.68 goals per match average.
The USC match marks the return of San Jose State head coach Gabor Sarusi to his alma mater and is the tenth for the Spartans against a top-10 ranked team. San Jose State is 1-9 against top-10 ranked teams this season.
Collegiate Water Polo Association weekly coaches poll
March 22, 2017
| Rank, Team | Points |
| USC | 100 |
| Stanford | 96 |
| UCLA | 92 |
| California | 88 |
| UC Irvine | 83 |
| Arizona State | 79 |
| Michigan | 76 |
| Hawaii | 73 |
| Pacific | 69 |
| UC Davis | 61 |
| Princeton | 61 |
| San Diego State | 54 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 51 |
| San Jose State | 47 |
| Indiana | 43 |
| Long Beach State | 42 |
| Wagner | 37 |
| Hartwick | 32 |
| UC San Diego | 31 |
| Harvard | 22 |
| Loyola Marymount | 16 |
| CSU Bakersfield | 14 |
| Cal State Northridge | 14 |
| Cal Baptist | 2 |
| Bucknell | 2 |