NEW LONDON, Conn -- The Augustana Viking women's water polo team will gear up to defend its CWPA title this upcoming weekend at the 2024 CWPA Championships set to begin on Friday, April 19.

Augustana enters the tournament with a 16-3 overall record and is currently riding a nine-game winning streak. The team recently wrapped up a 4-0 weekend in Erie, Pa. back on April 6-7 to conclude the conference slate with a perfect 8-0 record. On the final day of competition, the Vikings defeated Wheaton (Mass.) and Grove City by scores of 27-2 and 17-5. Of the team's three losses this season, just one has come against Division III competition, with two of three defeats totaling a combined margin of just four points

On Wednesday, four Vikings were named to the CWPA All-Conference teams, with Casey Barragan earning First Team honors to go with Most Vaulable Player recognition. Lizzie Pelzman and Charlotte Newport were named to First Team as well, while Ocean Akau notched Second Team accolades.

Augie earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming CWPA Tournament and will await the winner of the No. 8 vs. No 9 game between the final two opponents they saw last, Grove City and Wheaton. Grove City finished the regular season with a 3-13 record and 1-7 mark in conference, but recently won its last outing on April 13 against Penn State Behrend by a score of 16-13. The Wolverines bested the Lyons of Wheaton in their previous matchup by a final of 19-4. Wheaton enters the tournament with an 0-10 record and recently dropped its regular season finale to Carthage by a score of 10-5.

The Vikings have faced each team just once in program history. Augustana will face the winner at 6 p.m. CDT on Friday.

Fans attending the CWPA Division III Championship can pay for either a three-day tournament pass ($25) or a one-day pass ($10). Connecticut College students, faculty and staff with a valid college ID, and senior citizens 65 and older, will be admitted at discounted prices of $10 (tournament pass) and $5 (one-day pass). All children 12 and under are free of charge. All tickets are exclusively available at the door as there will be no pre-sale in advance of the championship.