Earlier today the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) released its first Men's Varsity Division III Top-10 Poll with the University of Redlands squad ranking No. 2 overall.

The CWPA poll is voted on by a panel of coaches from the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA), Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The Bulldogs recorded 94 total votes, collecting two more than East Coast rival Johns Hopkins University (MD), which sits at the No. 3 slot.

Last year the Maroon and Gray completed the 2010 season with an overall mark of 20-16 while going 8-2 in conference play.  The Bulldogs return several key student-athletes from last year's second-place team, including senior driver Jeff Parsons (Newark, CA), junior goalkeeper Jessie Gunther (Perris, CA), sophomore driver Tucker Creevy (Crofton, MD) and sophomore center John Nietzel (Old Greenwich, CT).

The U of R opens the 2011 campaign at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational on Saturday, September 3, when it takes on the host school and Loyola Marymount University. 

For a complete list of the CWPA Poll, please visit

http://collegiatewaterpolo.org/varsity/polls/men/2011/Preseason