LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The Augustana Vikings men's water polo team will compete in the Claremont Convergence beginning Friday, September 29 in southern California, set to face four teams inside the top 10.

Augustana is 2-2 on the year and we will be back in action for the first time since September 3. The Vikings split four games at the Bruno Classic on the east coast, bouncing back from two day one losses against NCAA Division I teams with double-digit victories over Mount St. Mary's and Mercyhurst. Despite several weeks off, Augie remains ranked inside the ACWPC poll, checking in at No. 10 in the latest edition.

On Friday, the Vikings will begin with a matchup against the No. 4 ranked Cal Lutheran Kingsmen. The Kingsmen currently sit at 3-6 on the year and looking to extend their current win streak to three games after picking up wins over Caltech and La Verne in their most recent outings. Friday will mark just the second meeting ever between Cal Lutheran and Augustana, with the Kingsmen winning back in 2021 by a final of 14-8. Start time is scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT.

Later in the day, Augie will play a true road contest against the No. 7 ranked Occidental Tigers at 9 p.m. CDT. The Tigers currently possess a 5-5 overall record, recently defeating Caltech on Wednesday by a score of 18-5. Friday will mark the first-ever meeting between Augustana and Occidental.

On Saturday, the Vikings will first head to La Verne, Calif. for a matchup against the No. 4 ranked Chapman Panthers. The Panthers are tied with Cal Lutheran at the No. 4 spot in the latest ACWPC poll and hold a 1-6 record on the season. Chapman recently picked up their first win of the season last Friday against Whittier, but dropped their most recent outing this past Wednesday against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Panthers won the lone encounter against the Vikings back in 2021, a 17-9 victory. Start time is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. CDT.

Augustana will close out the invitational at 5:40 p.m. CDT against the No. 1 ranked Redlands Bulldogs in Claremont, Calif. The Bulldogs sit 8-3 overall on the season and are riding a five-game winning streak dating back to September 10. The team defeated Ottawa (Ariz.) by a score of 13-12 in their most recent outing. Saturday will serve as the first-ever meeting between Augustana and Redlands.

Following the conclusion of the Claremont Convergence, the Vikings will stick around for one final game on Sunday, October 1 when they visit the Whittier Poets for the first meeting ever between the two programs. The Poets recently dropped out of the ACWPC poll and own an 0-12 record on the year. Whittier was defeated in their most recent by McKendree by a score of 20-11. Start time on Sunday is scheduled for 2 p.m. CDT from Whitter, Calif.

The Vikings' previously scheduled game vs. No. 9 La Verne on Sunday has been canceled. 

Live coverage of all games can be found here.