FRESNO, CALIF. – The No. 5 California women's water polo team whipped up two important wins to kick off its 2026 campaign, beating No. 15 Michigan 23-18 before a significant 14-9 victory over No. 4 Hawai'i out at the Polopalooza in Fresno. Feline Voordouw amassed seven goals and Julia Bonaguidi had six across the two Cal wins, while Abbi Magee opened the day with a career-high six goals in the slugfest with the Wolverines.

The matchup with Hawai'i was the marquee event of the day as it offered a rematch of last year's NCAA Quarterfinal, which the Rainbow Wahine won over the Golden Bears. In today's tilt, Cal forced its way out in front early with a 6-2 lead in the first period and stayed the course to victory. The Wahine got no closer than three goals away from Cal down the stretch, as the Bears had a response to each Hawai'i goal. Goalie Talia Fonseca set the tone on both ends, hauling in 12 saves in the game while also adding a goal with a buzzer-beater to top off the first frame. Julia Bonaguidi issued a buzzer-beater of her own before halftime, as Cal was up 9-5 at the break. The teams would stay in stride in the third, with Julianne Snyder sandwiching a Claire Rowell goal with two of her own as the Bears blasted ahead 12-6. Hawai'i tallied two, and it was 12-8 to bring up the fourth. As the fog continued to sit solidly in the venue, scoring slowed in the fourth, although Maria Bogachenko and Bonaguidi would each add to their tallies in wrapping up the 14-9 win for Cal.

The first game of the day was a goal-fest between the Bears and Wolverines. Cal punched up eight goals in the first eight minutes to take early control, and goals continued to stack up. Magee's career-high six goals led the Bears, while Vooudouw matched her career high of five goals. Despoina Drakotou made her Cal debut count with a hat trick, and Holly Dunn also pinned up three for the Bears in the win.

NEXT: Cal wraps up action in Fresno tomorrow (Jan. 18) with a 1:30 p.m. meeting against No. 8 UC Irvine out at Polopalooza.

NOTABLE:
- Abbi Magee set a new career high with six goals vs. Michigan.
- Feline Voordouw tied her career high of five goals vs. Michigan.
- Holly Dunn scored a career-high three goals vs. Michigan.
- Despoina Drakotou scored her first goals as a Bear with her hat trick vs. Michigan.
- With 12 saves vs. Hawai'i, Talia Fonseca recorded the seventh double-digit save outing of her Cal career.
- Fonseca also scored a goal vs. the Rainbow Wahine.
- Julia Bonaguidi matched her career high of four goals vs. Hawai'i.

2026 POLOPALOOZA (Fresno, Calif.)

GAME ONE
#5 Cal 23, #15 Michigan 18
CAL   8 - 5 - 4 - 6 = 23 
UM    3 - 4 - 6 - 5 = 18  

SCORING:
CAL -- Abbi Magee 6, Feline Voordouw 5, Despoina Drakotou 3, Holly Dunn 3, Julianne Snyder 2, Julia Bonaguidi 2, Rosalie Hassett 2.
UM -- E. Gustafsson 5, R. Chapple 4, B. Ingram 3, I. Jackson 2, A. Karampetsou 2, K. Levenfeld, H. Dickens.
SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 6, Sophia Bunnell (UM) 10.

GAME TWO
#5 Cal 14, #4 Hawai'i 9
CAL   6 - 3 - 3 - 2 = 14 
UH     2 - 3 - 3 - 1 = 9

SCORING:
CAL -- Juilia Bonaguidi 4, Julianne Snyder 2, Feline Voordouw 2, Maria Bogachenko 2, Despoina Drakotou 2, Claire Rowell, Talia Fonseca.
UH -- A. Weston 4, E. Vernoux 3, R. Perlman, A. Temprano Xambó.
SAVES: Talia Fonseca (CAL) 12, Daisy Logtens (UH) 1.

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