BRIDGEPORT — The Carthage women's water polo team has been selected No. nine in the preseason NCAA Division III Top 10 released Wednesday by the Collegiate Water Polo Association. The Firebirds were also tabbed No. four in the CWPA Division III Top five preseason poll.

Carthage closed the 2025 season with a 3-1 showing at the CWPA Division III Tournament, finishing fifth overall. The Firebirds were not ranked in the final Top 10 poll and landed No. five in the final Top five rankings.

The Firebirds open the 2026 campaign Saturday, Feb. 7, at the McKendree Mini Tournament, facing Augustana (Ill.), McKendree and California-Merced.

Carthage then travels to St. Paul, Minn., for the Macalester Invite on Feb. 14-15 before heading west for the Convergence Tournament in Claremont, Calif., on March 6-7.

The Firebirds return home to host the CWPA West Tournament against Macalester, Grove City, Austin and Augustana (Ill.). Carthage wraps up the regular season March 28-29 in Washington, Pa., with matches against Washington and Jefferson, Wheaton (Mass.), Connecticut and Penn State Behrend, before preparing for the CWPA Division III Championship in Norton, Mass., on April 11-12.