SBCC Women's Water Polo Sweeps Halloween Invitational
The top-ranked Santa Barbara City College team won all four games at the SBCC Halloween Invitational before opening Western State Conference Tournament play.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Volleyball
The Santa Barbara City College Women's Water Polo team, ranked No. 2 with a 27-6 overall record, swept the SBCC Halloween Invitational with wins over Orange Coast, West Valley, LA Valley and UCSB Club. The team now begins play at the Western State Conference Tournament, where it earned a Thursday bye.
Why it matters
The sweep extends Santa Barbara's 6-0 start in conference play as it pursues its 12th straight conference title. The top seed and bye position the team to rest before its Friday matchup.
Santa Barbara scored 17-9 over Orange Coast, 14-4 over West Valley, 12-6 over LA Valley and 15-4 over UCSB Club, averaging 15 goals per game. The Western State Conference Tournament outcome beyond Friday's game is not yet determined.
The players
Katie Strohl
Santa Barbara's standout player who led the state with 104 assists last year and rejoined the squad after time away.
Olivia Spieth
Santa Barbara scorer who netted three goals against Orange Coast during the Halloween Invitational.
The details
Katie Strohl returned to the squad for the first time since the season opener, and Olivia Spieth scored three goals against Orange Coast. The team scored seven goals in the first quarter against UCSB Club.
Timeline
Friday, October 31: Santa Barbara beat Orange Coast 17-9 under the lights.
Saturday, November 1 (morning): Santa Barbara beat West Valley 14-4 and LA Valley 12-6.
Friday WSC game: Santa Barbara plays at 11:15 a.m. at Cuesta against the Bakersfield-Ventura winner.
Season Trajectory
Santa Barbara's 6-0 conference start and pursuit of a 12th straight Western State Conference title continue a long championship run in the league. Winning the tournament would extend that streak and reinforce the program's position among the conference's top teams.
Fans following the Western State Conference Tournament can track Santa Barbara's Friday 11:15 a.m. start at Cuesta and its Saturday 12:30 p.m. final if the team advances. The top seed's Thursday bye means the team has an extra day of rest before competition resumes.
The takeaway
Top seeds that earn a bye can use the extra day to rest and prepare for the tournament's later rounds. Following the team's schedule closely helps fans track each game as the bracket advances.
What happens next
Santa Barbara plays the winner of Bakersfield-Ventura on Friday at 11:15 a.m. at Cuesta in the Western State Conference Tournament, and would play in the final Saturday at 12:30 p.m. if it wins.
Further reading
Explore more Volleyball coverage from Santa Barbara.
