BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Stanford University, on the heels of a 12-11 sudden victory overtime win against former No. 1 the University of Southern California, became the best in the nation as the Cardinal moved to No 1 in the February 23 Women's Varsity Top 20 poll, while Pomona-Pitzer Colleges and the University of Michigan remain No. 1 in the Division III and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Top 10 polls for another week.
Stanford, which knocked off USC 12-11 in sudden victory over the weekend, moved past the Trojans to take over the top spot and highlight a Varsity Top 20 poll in which only four of the ranked teams retained their positions from the February 18 poll.
USC slipped to No. 2, while the University of California-Los Angeles climbed over the University of Hawaii to No. 3, Hawaii dropped to No. 4, San Diego State University moved up one place to No. 5, Arizona State University improved four places to No. 6, University of California fell to No. 7, San Jose State University and Loyola Marymount University remained at No. 8 and 9, and University of California-Irvine rose to No. 10 to round out the "Top 10" teams in the nation.
University of California-Davis, California State University-Northridge, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Michigan, Hartwick College, Long Beach State University, California State University-Bakersfield, University of California-San Diego, Indiana University and University of Maryland account for No. 11-20 to round out the "Top 20" teams in the poll.
2009 Varsity Top 20 (Week 6 - February 25) |
Rank | Team | Feb. 18 Poll | Points |
| 1 | Stanford University
| 2 | 100 |
| 2 | University of Southern California
| 1 | 95 |
| 3 | University of California, Los Angeles
| 4 | 90 |
| 4 | University of Hawaii
| 3 | 85 |
| 5 | San Diego State University
| 6 | 79 |
| 6 | Arizona State University | 10 | 74 |
| 7 | University of California | 5 | 72 |
| 8 | San Jose State University
| 8 | 65 |
| 9 | Loyola Marymount University | 9 | 60 |
| 10 | University of California, Irvine
| 12 | 55 |
| 11 | University of California, Davis
| 7 | 50 |
| 12 | California State University, Northridge
| 14
| 45 |
13
| University of California, Santa Barbara
| 19 | 38 |
| 14 | University of Michigan
| 11 | 35 |
| 15 | Hartwick College
| 15 | 26 |
| 16 | Long Beach State University
| 13 | 25 |
| 17 | California State University, Bakersfield
| 17 | 20 |
| 18 | University of California, San Diego
| 16 | 15 |
| 19 | Indiana University
| 18 | 14 |
| 20 | University of Maryland
| RV | 4 |
| RV | Princeton University
| NR | 2 |
| RV | Marist College
| RV | 1 |
| RV | Iona College
| NR | 1 |
Pomona-Pitzer, which did not play last week, remains a unanimous No. 1 selection in the Division III poll. California State University-East Bay improved to No. 2 this week, up from No. 4 in the February 18 balloting, while California Lutheran University and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges are tied for No. 3.
University of Redlands slipped to No. 5, University of California-Santa Cruz held firm at No. 6, Occidental College dropped back to No. 7 and the trio of Chapman College, Whittier College and Grove City College stayed at No. 8 through 10, respectively.
2009 Division III Poll (Week 6 - February 25) |
| Rank | Team | Feb. 18 Poll | Points |
| 1 | Pomona Pitzer Colleges | 1 | 100 |
| 2 | California State University-East Bay
| 4 | 91 |
3 (T)
| California Lutheran University
| 3 | 85 |
3 (T)
| Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges
| 7 | 85 |
| 5 | University of Redlands
| 2 | 84 |
| 6 | University of California, Santa Cruz
| 6 | 77 |
| 7 | Occidental College
| 5 | 72 |
| 8 | Chapman College | 8 | 65 |
| 9 | Whittier College | 9 | 61 |
| 10 | Grove City College
| 10 | 44 |
| RV | Carthage College | RV | 11 |
The Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 10 saw little change this week as University of Michigan, Hartwick College, Indiana University and University of Maryland held their positions at No. 1 through 4, and the grouping of Bucknell University, Harvard University, George Washington University and Gannon University remained locked at No. 7 through 10.
Princeton University and Brown University account for the only change of the week as the Tigers jumped over the Bears to No. 5 in the wake of an 11-9 victory over Brown at the Princeton Invitational.
2009 CWPA Poll (Week 6 - February 25) |
Rank | Team | Feb. 18 Poll | Points |
| 1 | University of Michigan
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | Hartwick College
| 2 | 95 |
| 3 | Indiana University | 3 | 90 |
4
| University of Maryland | 4 | 83 |
5
| Princeton University
| 6 | 82 |
| 6 | Brown University | 5 | 73 |
| 7 | Bucknell University | 7 | 70 |
| 8 | Harvard University | 8 | 67 |
| 9 | George Washington University | 9 | 60 |
| 10 | Gannon University
| 10 | 55 |
