NCS Water Polo Championships 2026
The North Coast Section’s playoffs: 71 teams from 43 schools in six brackets. The early rounds are at the higher seed’s pool, every final is Saturday, Nov 14, and the champions go on to the NorCal Championships.
From the section’s official brackets on MaxPreps, read every five minutes, so a result shows here soon after a school reports it. In the app: code NCSP26.
Before the first whistle
The storylines
Title streaks on the line
Carondelet has won Girls Open two years running and is the #2 seed again. San Ramon Valley has won Girls D1 two years running and is the #1 seed again.
Champions moved up
Redwood won Boys D1 three years running; this year they are the #3 seed in Boys Open. San Marin won Boys D2 in 2025; this year they are the #8 seed in Boys D1.
Alameda v Encinal, round one
Two WACC schools open Girls D1 against each other: #4 Alameda and #13 Encinal, Thu 11/5 at 7:15 PM, Encinal HS.
Last year’s finals, and where those teams are now
| Division | 2025 final | Champion in 2026 | Runner-up in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girls Open | Carondelet 14–11 Acalanestwo straight | #2 in Girls Open | Acalanes: #3 in Girls Open |
| Girls D1 | San Ramon Valley 15–10 Las Lomastwo straight | #1 in Girls D1 | Las Lomas: #7 in Girls D1 |
| Girls D2 | Amador Valley 9–7 Alhambra | Not in this year’s field | Alhambra: #5 in Girls D2 |
| Boys Open | Miramonte 15–7 Campolindo | #1 in Boys Open | Campolindo: #2 in Boys Open |
| Boys D1 | Redwood 16–8 Alamedathree straight | #3 in Boys Open (moved up) | Alameda: #3 in Boys D1 |
| Boys D2 | San Marin 9–6 James Logan | #8 in Boys D1 (moved up) | James Logan: #15 in Boys D1 (moved up) |
The busiest pools
First round, Nov 4 and 5. The higher seed hosts.
- Encinal HS7 games · Wed 11/4 and Thu 11/5
- San Ramon Valley HS4 games · Thu 11/5
- Vintage HS4 games · Wed 11/4
- Archie Williams HS3 games · Thu 11/5
- Granada HS3 games · Wed 11/4
The WACC in the field
10 teams from 6 schools, a week after the league championship.
| School | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | #4 D1 | #3 D1 |
| Berkeley | #11 D1 | #3 D2 |
| Piedmont | · | #16 D1 |
| Bishop O'Dowd | #4 D2 | #8 D2 |
| Encinal | #13 D1 | #12 D2 |
| Lick-Wilmerding | #3 D2 | · |
Girls · three brackets
The girls brackets
Girls · 4 teams · 4 games · 11/7, 11/11 and 11/14
Girls Open Division
The section’s top four: two wins for the title, and the semifinal losers play for 3rd.
Girls · 16 teams · 15 games · 11/5, 11/7, 11/11 and 11/14
Girls Division 1
Sixteen teams, no byes: four wins to the title, starting with #1 San Ramon Valley.
Girls · 15 teams · 14 games · 11/4, 11/7, 11/11 and 11/14
Girls Division 2
#1 Northgate skips the first round with a bye: three wins to the title, every other seed four.
Boys · three brackets
The boys brackets
Boys · 4 teams · 4 games · 11/7, 11/11 and 11/14
Boys Open Division
The section’s top four: two wins for the title, and the semifinal losers play for 3rd.
Boys · 16 teams · 15 games · 11/5, 11/7, 11/11 and 11/14
Boys Division 1
Sixteen teams, no byes: four wins to the title, starting with #1 Northgate.
Boys · 16 teams · 15 games · 11/4, 11/7, 11/11 and 11/14
Boys Division 2
Sixteen teams, no byes: four wins to the title, starting with #1 Liberty.
All six brackets
Day by day
Every game in start order. The game numbers are the section’s, one set per bracket. Times and pools for the later rounds are set as the brackets advance; they show here when the section posts them.
Wednesday, Nov 4 · 15 games
Girls D2G3Wed 11/4 3:30 PM
#4Bishop O'Dowd#13El CerritoEncinal HS · First round
Girls D2G6Wed 11/4 3:30 PM
#7Heritage#10PittsburgHeritage HS · First round
Girls D2G5Wed 11/4 4:00 PM
#2Washington#15AlbanyGranada HS · First round
Boys D2G2Wed 11/4 4:00 PM
#8Bishop O'Dowd#9ConcordSan Leandro HS · First round
Boys D2G4Wed 11/4 4:00 PM
#5Vintage#12EncinalVintage HS · First round
Boys D2G1Wed 11/4 4:45 PM
#1Liberty#16Pinole ValleyHeritage HS · First round
Boys D2G7Wed 11/4 4:45 PM
#3Berkeley#14PittsburgEncinal HS · First round
Girls D2G4Wed 11/4 5:00 PM
#5Alhambra#12James LoganSan Leandro HS · First round
Girls D2G2Wed 11/4 5:15 PM
#8Napa#9American CanyonVintage HS · First round
Boys D2G6Wed 11/4 5:15 PM
#7Washington#10Justin-SienaGranada HS · First round
Girls D2G7Wed 11/4 6:00 PM
#3Lick-Wilmerding#14VintageEncinal HS · First round
Boys D2G3Wed 11/4 6:00 PM
#4Heritage#13Dougherty ValleyHeritage HS · First round
Girls D2G8Wed 11/4 6:30 PM
#6Marin Catholic#11Justin-SienaVintage HS · First round
Boys D2G8Wed 11/4 6:30 PM
#6Foothill#11AlhambraGranada HS · First round
Boys D2G5Wed 11/4 7:45 PM
#2Cardinal Newman#15Newark MemorialVintage HS · First round
Thursday, Nov 5 · 16 games
Boys D1G6Thu 11/5 3:30 PM
#7Tamalpais#10Marin CatholicArchie Williams HS · First round
Boys D1G7Thu 11/5 3:30 PM
#3Alameda#14GranadaEncinal HS · First round
Girls D1G8Thu 11/5 4:00 PM
#6Redwood#11BerkeleyNovato HS · First round
Boys D1G1Thu 11/5 4:00 PM
#1Northgate#16PiedmontLas Lomas HS · First round
Boys D1G8Thu 11/5 4:00 PM
#6Monte Vista#11College ParkSan Ramon Valley HS · First round
Girls D1G4Thu 11/5 4:45 PM
#5Tamalpais#12GranadaArchie Williams HS · First round
Girls D1G6Thu 11/5 4:45 PM
#7Las Lomas#10Mission San JoseEncinal HS · First round
Girls D1G2Thu 11/5 5:15 PM
#8Liberty#9College ParkLas Lomas HS · First round
Girls D1G5Thu 11/5 5:15 PM
#2Monte Vista#15Marin AcademySan Ramon Valley HS · First round
Boys D1G2Thu 11/5 5:15 PM
#8San Marin#9AcalanesNovato HS · First round
Girls D1G7Thu 11/5 6:00 PM
#3Archie Williams#14FoothillArchie Williams HS · First round
Boys D1G5Thu 11/5 6:00 PM
#2San Ramon Valley#15James LoganEncinal HS · First round
Boys D1G3Thu 11/5 6:30 PM
#4Archie Williams#13Clayton Valley CharterSan Ramon Valley HS · First round
Boys D1G4Thu 11/5 6:30 PM
#5Las Lomas#12Marin AcademyLas Lomas HS · First round
Girls D1G3Thu 11/5 7:15 PM
#4Alameda#13EncinalEncinal HS · First round
Girls D1G1Thu 11/5 7:45 PM
#1San Ramon Valley#16San MarinSan Ramon Valley HS · First round
Saturday, Nov 7 · 20 games
Girls OpenG1Sat 11/7 · time TBA
#1Miramonte#4CampolindoSite TBA · Semifinals
Girls OpenG2Sat 11/7 · time TBA
#2Carondelet#3AcalanesSite TBA · Semifinals
Girls D1G9Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 1Winner of game 2Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D1G10Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 3Winner of game 4Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D1G11Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 5Winner of game 6Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D1G12Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 7Winner of game 8Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D2G9Sat 11/7 · time TBA
#1NorthgateWinner of game 2Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D2G10Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 3Winner of game 4Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D2G11Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 5Winner of game 6Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Girls D2G12Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 7Winner of game 8Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys OpenG1Sat 11/7 · time TBA
#1Miramonte#4De La SalleSite TBA · Semifinals
Boys OpenG2Sat 11/7 · time TBA
#2Campolindo#3RedwoodSite TBA · Semifinals
Boys D1G9Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 1Winner of game 2Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D1G10Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 3Winner of game 4Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D1G11Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 5Winner of game 6Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D1G12Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 7Winner of game 8Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D2G9Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 1Winner of game 2Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D2G10Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 3Winner of game 4Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D2G11Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 5Winner of game 6Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Boys D2G12Sat 11/7 · time TBA
Winner of game 7Winner of game 8Site TBA · Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Nov 11 · 10 games
Girls OpenG4Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Loser of game 1Loser of game 2Site TBA · 3rd place
Girls D1G13Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 9Winner of game 10Site TBA · Semifinals
Girls D1G14Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 11Winner of game 12Site TBA · Semifinals
Girls D2G13Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 9Winner of game 10Site TBA · Semifinals
Girls D2G14Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 11Winner of game 12Site TBA · Semifinals
Boys OpenG4Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Loser of game 1Loser of game 2Site TBA · 3rd place
Boys D1G13Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 9Winner of game 10Site TBA · Semifinals
Boys D1G14Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 11Winner of game 12Site TBA · Semifinals
Boys D2G13Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 9Winner of game 10Site TBA · Semifinals
Boys D2G14Wed 11/11 · time TBA
Winner of game 11Winner of game 12Site TBA · Semifinals
Saturday, Nov 14 · 6 games
Girls OpenG3Sat 11/14 · time TBA
Winner of game 1Winner of game 2Site TBA · Final
Girls D1G15Sat 11/14 · time TBA
Winner of game 13Winner of game 14Site TBA · Final
Girls D2G15Sat 11/14 · time TBA
Winner of game 13Winner of game 14Site TBA · Final
Boys OpenG3Sat 11/14 · time TBA
Winner of game 1Winner of game 2Site TBA · Final
Boys D1G15Sat 11/14 · time TBA
Winner of game 13Winner of game 14Site TBA · Final
Boys D2G15Sat 11/14 · time TBA
Winner of game 13Winner of game 14Site TBA · Final
The record
Past champions
The NCS finals as the section’s brackets on MaxPreps record them: boys since 2022, girls since 2024. The NCS history: every final, the title runs, the upsets, how the seeds hold up and every program’s record →
Girls
| Year | Open | D1 | D2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Carondelet14–11 v Acalanes | San Ramon Valley15–10 v Las Lomas | Amador Valley9–7 v Alhambra |
| 2024 | Carondelet8–6 v Campolindo | San Ramon Valley9–7 v Las Lomas | Marin Catholic8–6 v James Logan |
Boys
| Year | Open | D1 | D2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Miramonte15–7 v Campolindo | Redwood16–8 v Alameda | San Marin9–6 v James Logan |
| 2024 | De La Salle14–13 v Miramonte | Redwood12–9 v Tamalpais | Marin Academy9–8 v Cardinal Newman |
| 2023 | Miramonte12–10 v De La Salle | Redwood10–9 v Las Lomas | Piedmont10–8 v Alameda |
| 2022 | De La Salle12–8 v Miramonte | San Ramon Valley10–7 v Tamalpais | Terra Linda12–6 v Marin Academy |
Where
Pools
The higher seed hosts until the finals. These are the first-round pools (Wed 11/4 and Thu 11/5); later rounds show their pool on the game once the section sets it.
Encinal HS
Directions- Wed 11/4 3:30 PM · Girls D2: Bishop O'Dowd v El Cerrito
- Wed 11/4 4:45 PM · Boys D2: Berkeley v Pittsburg
- Wed 11/4 6:00 PM · Girls D2: Lick-Wilmerding v Vintage
- Thu 11/5 3:30 PM · Boys D1: Alameda v Granada
- Thu 11/5 4:45 PM · Girls D1: Las Lomas v Mission San Jose
- Thu 11/5 6:00 PM · Boys D1: San Ramon Valley v James Logan
- Thu 11/5 7:15 PM · Girls D1: Alameda v Encinal
San Ramon Valley HS
Directions- Thu 11/5 4:00 PM · Boys D1: Monte Vista v College Park
- Thu 11/5 5:15 PM · Girls D1: Monte Vista v Marin Academy
- Thu 11/5 6:30 PM · Boys D1: Archie Williams v Clayton Valley Charter
- Thu 11/5 7:45 PM · Girls D1: San Ramon Valley v San Marin
Vintage HS
Directions- Wed 11/4 4:00 PM · Boys D2: Vintage v Encinal
- Wed 11/4 5:15 PM · Girls D2: Napa v American Canyon
- Wed 11/4 6:30 PM · Girls D2: Marin Catholic v Justin-Siena
- Wed 11/4 7:45 PM · Boys D2: Cardinal Newman v Newark Memorial
Archie Williams HS
Directions- Thu 11/5 3:30 PM · Boys D1: Tamalpais v Marin Catholic
- Thu 11/5 4:45 PM · Girls D1: Tamalpais v Granada
- Thu 11/5 6:00 PM · Girls D1: Archie Williams v Foothill
Granada HS
Directions- Wed 11/4 4:00 PM · Girls D2: Washington v Albany
- Wed 11/4 5:15 PM · Boys D2: Washington v Justin-Siena
- Wed 11/4 6:30 PM · Boys D2: Foothill v Alhambra
Heritage HS
Directions- Wed 11/4 3:30 PM · Girls D2: Heritage v Pittsburg
- Wed 11/4 4:45 PM · Boys D2: Liberty v Pinole Valley
- Wed 11/4 6:00 PM · Boys D2: Heritage v Dougherty Valley
Las Lomas HS
Directions- Thu 11/5 4:00 PM · Boys D1: Northgate v Piedmont
- Thu 11/5 5:15 PM · Girls D1: Liberty v College Park
- Thu 11/5 6:30 PM · Boys D1: Las Lomas v Marin Academy
Novato HS
Directions- Thu 11/5 4:00 PM · Girls D1: Redwood v Berkeley
- Thu 11/5 5:15 PM · Boys D1: San Marin v Acalanes
San Leandro HS
Directions- Wed 11/4 4:00 PM · Boys D2: Bishop O'Dowd v Concord
- Wed 11/4 5:00 PM · Girls D2: Alhambra v James Logan
Following a team?
Live on Eggbeater
Alameda, Encinal and Monte Vista score their games on Eggbeater, so their team pages carry the score live, about five seconds behind the table. Their NCS games:
Every bracket is in the Eggbeater app too: open the NCS in the app or enter the code NCSP26, then pick a division and a team.
AlamedaG D1 #4 · B D1 #3
Girls: 4 wins to the title · Boys: 4 wins to the title
EncinalG D1 #13 · B D2 #12
Girls: 4 wins to the title · Boys: 4 wins to the title
Monte VistaG D1 #2 · B D1 #6
- Thu 11/5 4:00 PM · Boys v College Park · San Ramon Valley HS
- Thu 11/5 5:15 PM · Girls v Marin Academy · San Ramon Valley HS
Girls: 4 wins to the title · Boys: 4 wins to the title
Eggbeater is the live layer for water polo. Not affiliated with the CIF North Coast Section. This page mirrors the section’s official brackets on MaxPreps so fans can find and follow them; the section’s brackets are the official record.