It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Stanford Clock Tower in Stanford, CA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Stanford, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Frenchman's Park in Stanford, CA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ettan or visit MacFarland House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Stanford, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Stanford, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Stanford, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The reigning ACC Champion Cardinal will compete in 5 home meets against Clemson, California, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Boise StateSTANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's gymnastics announced its 2026 schedule Monday, featuring five meets inside Maples Pavilion. The reigning ACC Champion Cardinal will compete in 11 regular season meets during the 2026 season, highlighted by matchups with Clemson, California, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Boise State at home.The Cardinal kicks off its 2026 season in Denver, taking on the Pioneers ...
The reigning ACC Champion Cardinal will compete in 5 home meets against Clemson, California, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Boise State
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford women's gymnastics announced its 2026 schedule Monday, featuring five meets inside Maples Pavilion. The reigning ACC Champion Cardinal will compete in 11 regular season meets during the 2026 season, highlighted by matchups with Clemson, California, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Boise State at home.
The Cardinal kicks off its 2026 season in Denver, taking on the Pioneers Jan. 11 in a dual meet scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. PT start.
A week later, Stanford travels to Chapel Hill, N.C. to take on North Carolina on Jan. 18 at 1 p.m PT.
The Cardinal then returns home for three of its five home meets, taking on Clemson Jan. 25, California Jan. 30, and Pittsburgh Feb. 6. Stanford’s matchup with the Tigers is set for a 2 p.m. start while the meetings with the Golden Bears and Panthers are slated for 7 p.m.
Stanford heads on the road for its next three matchups, kicked off by a trip to Fort Worth, Texas to battle California, Georgia and Air Force at the Metroplex Challenge Feb. 14 at 5:15 p.m. PT. The Cardinal then heads to Raleigh, N.C. for a bout with the Wolfpack Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. PT and wraps up the road swing with a meet in Corvallis, Ore. against the Beavers Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. PT.
The Cardinal wraps up the regular season with three meets in eight days, beginning with a meeting with former Pac-12 conference opponent and 2025 NCAA Runner-Up UCLA on March 7 at 2 p.m.
Stanford then heads across the Bay to California, competing in the California Quad meet March 13 at 7:30 p.m. The Cardinal's regular season finishes with a Senior Night matchup with Boise State March 15 at 2 p.m.
The ACC Championship is set for March 21 at the Greensboro Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. The conference championships will be split into two meets, with the regular-season results determining seeding. The two ACC teams with the fifth and sixth-best records will compete in the first session of the championships, while the first, second, third and fourth seeds will compete in the second session of the league title meet.
NCAA Regionals are scheduled for April 1-5 at university sites in Baton Rouge, La., Corvallis, Ore., Lexington, Ky., and Tempe, Ariz. The 2026 NCAA Championships are scheduled for April 16-18 inside Dickie's Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Stanford enters the 2026 season after a 2025 season where the Cardinal captured the university’s first conference team title in any sport as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The team upheld its values of trust, commitment, grace, and joy, as each member of the 2025 squad fulfilled their unique individual roles on the program’s path to its first conference championship title since 2008.
Throughout the entirety of the 2025 season, Stanford earned a 197.000-or-better team score in seven meets, matching the program's record for scores topping the 197.000 threshold in a single campaign set in 2004. The Cardinal also marked its first season since at least 1999 posting scores of 197.000-or-better in every single home competition.
Season tickets are available for sale for the Cardinal’s five home meets starting at just $40. For more information about Stanford Women’s Gymnastics home meets tickets, visit this link.
2026 Schedule
| Dates | Opponent | Location | Time (PT) |
| 1/11 | @ Denver | Denver, CO | 12:45 PM |
| 1/18 | @ North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC | 1 PM |
| 1/25 | vs. Clemson | Stanford, CA | 2 PM |
| 1/30 | vs. California | Stanford, CA | 7 PM |
| 2/6 | vs. Pittsburgh | Stanford, CA | 7 PM |
| 2/14 | Metroplex Challenge (vs. California, Georgia, Air Force) | Fort Worth, TX | 5:15 PM |
| 2/21 | @ North Carolina State | Raleigh, NC | 1 PM |
| 2/28 | @ Oregon State | Corvalis, OR | 7 PM |
| 3/7 | vs. UCLA | Stanford, CA | 2 PM |
| 3/13 | @ California Quad | Berkeley, CA | 7:30 PM |
| 3/15 | vs. Boise State | Stanford, CA | 2 PM |
| 3/21 | ACC Championship | Greensboro, NC | TBD |
| 4/1-5 | NCAA Regionals | Corvallis, OR Baton Rouge, LA Tempe, AZ Lexington, KY | TBD |
| 4/16-18 | NCAA Championships | Fort Worth, TX | TBD |
California pioneers artificial intelligence technologies, but can it power the many data centers AI requires? If not, the state could lose its dominant position in developing AI, according to a new Stanford University report.California can maintain its AI lead by focusing on five key strategies, according to the readout of a recent meeting in Sacramento of experts from California utilities, technology companies, data center developers, investment firms, academia, and government. However, this will require great determination and quic...
California pioneers artificial intelligence technologies, but can it power the many data centers AI requires? If not, the state could lose its dominant position in developing AI, according to a new Stanford University report.
California can maintain its AI lead by focusing on five key strategies, according to the readout of a recent meeting in Sacramento of experts from California utilities, technology companies, data center developers, investment firms, academia, and government. However, this will require great determination and quick actions throughout the state, said the experts.
U.S. electricity demand is rising on a scale last seen in the post-World War II industrial boom, primarily due to AI computing, electrification of transportation and buildings, and reshoring of manufacturing. By 2040, California peak power demand is forecast to increase by the amount of electricity needed to run 20 million homes, which is more than the number of homes in the state today. California’s task is to supply the new energy while continuing to decarbonize its electricity supply and making power in the state more affordable and reliable.
“The challenge is acute and urgent in the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Liang Min, managing director of Bits & Watts, the smart grid initiative of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Precourt Institute for Energy. “PG&E’s data center pipeline has doubled just since February.”
“On the bright side, electricity growth means economic growth, so it can be a good problem to have – if we solve it,” added Min, co-organizer of the meeting and lead author of the readout report. The Precourt Institute hosted the meeting in June, which follows one the institute held in February on expanding the grid for U.S. electricity growth broadly.
Attendees pointed out that very lengthy permitting processes for new power plants and transmission lines, wildfire outages, and sluggish grid connections for data centers and energy storage facilities threaten the reliability of California’s grid – especially with load growth. Executives in the meeting, which was held under assurance that the 50 participants would not be quoted, agreed that the state could lose out on many good jobs building and operating the needed infrastructure, as well as significant tax income.
But that’s not all.
“Technology companies and AI talent will necessarily migrate to the states that effectively support the growth of data centers,” Ira Ehrenpreis, founder and managing partner of venture capital firm DBL Partners, said after the meeting.
“The states that align infrastructure, electricity, and policy with AI’s explosive growth will win,” said Ehrenpreis, who is co-chair of the Precourt Institute’s advisory council, and co-organizer of the Sacramento meeting with Min. “California should create the optimal regulatory and legislative environment to properly compete.”
Ten meeting participants summarized the meeting’s discussion into five recommendations based on extensive notes.
First, the state should create a one-stop permitting venue integrating local, state, and federal reviews. Most big tech companies like California’s relatively low-carbon power supply, but they expect to build and get data centers online in two years. Delays in permits and grid connections in the state make this nearly impossible, though the California Public Utilities Commission and Gov. Gavin Newsom have moved this year to streamline the processes.
California could also buy and warehouse strategic grid equipment, like power transformers, to reduce construction delays. In addition, the state’s utilities should analyze the grid needs of new data centers in clusters – given their burgeoning pipelines – rather than individually.
Second, the state needs to invest in its electricity infrastructure while maximizing its use. On average, California’s transmission system uses less than 40% of its capacity, but data center developers tend to cluster their facilities in certain areas. The state’s grid operator can guide data center developers to underutilized areas and generally improve coordination with the developers for times when power supplies get disrupted.
Third, if data centers can harness their flexibility in power use, that would avoid unnecessary utility investments to meet avoidable peak demand. Most of the facilities have backup generators and energy storage, and they can delay some AI processing. This requires more coordination with California’s grid operator and electric utilities.
Fourth, the state government should do what it can to accelerate deployment of clean, 24/7 generation, such as geothermal energy, low-carbon fuel cells, and natural gas with carbon capture and sequestration. Though such technologies are still in early deployment and relatively expensive, bringing them to scale in the mid- to long-term could substantially lower overall system costs, land requirements, and transmission infrastructure needs compared to meeting new power demand with solar panels and wind turbines alone. Building new power generation near new data centers could also greatly reduce transmission infrastructure needs.
Fifth, state regulators and utilities could advance innovation in business models and financing mechanisms, which could accelerate both load growth and climate progress. Such innovations include enhancing flexibility in electricity use throughout the power system, long-term contracts to help fund grid expansions, and low-interest loans through public-private partnerships.
California electricity is among the most expensive supplies in the United States, due to infrastructure hardening for wildfire, years of flat demand, and other factors. New AI demand needs to drive bills down, not up, to maintain political viability, meeting participants agreed.
“Greater demand is crucial to affordably modernizing California’s energy infrastructure,” said William Chueh, director of the Precourt Institute and a professor of materials science in Stanford’s School of Engineering. “Additional demand can increase transmission utilization and spread the costs of infrastructure investments we must make anyway across much more consumption, if we get this right.”
California has about 24 months to correct its course or risk losing its AI and data center competitive advantage to more agile states, meeting participants said. In that time, state agencies need to improve permitting, interconnections, forecasting, operations, and investments. Commercial customers, meanwhile, should commit to capacity agreements, site projects strategically, and enhance grid reliability through existing backup systems and electricity use flexibility. Likewise, California’s universities and Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial and venture-capital ecosystem are well positioned to move promising ideas and technologies from lab to market quickly.
“Every month saved in siting, interconnection, and construction puts capital to work sooner, creates jobs, raises tax revenues, spreads fixed costs among more customers, and brings clean capacity online when it’s needed most,” said Min. “We must adapt quickly to harness AI’s once-in-a-lifetime economic and technological opportunity.”
The Precourt Institute met privately in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 9 with industry executives and executive branch employees on managing AI-fueled electricity growth nationally. On Nov. 5, it will host Powering AI Innovation Forum, which will take on a global perspective and is open to the public.
The No. 2 California men's water polo team (12-2) will head to the peninsula for the Big Splash against No. 4 Stanford (9-4) on Friday at the Avery Aquatic Center. Coverage will be available on Overnght beginning at 3 p.m. PT.It will be the first of the two-game regular-season series between the two teams, following their three meetings last year. The Cardinal clinched the series after winning the first matchup 16-11 at Stanford before winning the rubber match 14-5 in the regular-season finale. The Golden Bears pul...
The No. 2 California men's water polo team (12-2) will head to the peninsula for the Big Splash against No. 4 Stanford (9-4) on Friday at the Avery Aquatic Center. Coverage will be available on Overnght beginning at 3 p.m. PT.
It will be the first of the two-game regular-season series between the two teams, following their three meetings last year. The Cardinal clinched the series after winning the first matchup 16-11 at Stanford before winning the rubber match 14-5 in the regular-season finale. The Golden Bears pulled out an upset victory against then-No. 1 Stanford, 13-11, on Oct. 19, 2024.
UP NEXT SATURDAY, OCT. 17 No. 2 Cal vs. No. 4 Stanford | 3 PM PT | Livestream: Overnght | Live Stats: 6-8sports.com
LEADERS OF THE PACK Through seven weeks, goalkeeper Aran Pina is tied for second in the MPSF in steals (27), sits third in saves (127) and is fifth in save percentage (0.50). Attacker Albert Ponferrada is currently tied for first in the conference in field blocks (10). Attacker Beso Akhvlediani sits tied for fourth in field blocks, tied for seventh in goals (33) and tied for eighth in points (52). Center Chase Wilson is ranked tied for eighth in the conference in earned exclusions (27).
STELLAR NEWCOMERS A Bear has been crowned the MPSF Newcomer of the Week twice this season. On Sept. 22, freshman attacker Kai Inoue collected his first career honor after being a key piece to Cal's title game run at the Overnght MPSF Invitational. In four games, Inoue racked up 10 goals, five assists and three earned exclusions while recording a career-high five-goal game against UC Santa Barbara.
A week prior, on Sept. 15, freshman goalkeeper Aran Pina brought home his first honor after a spectacular weekend protecting the net and helping Cal secure three top-15 wins against then-No. 6 San Jose State, then-No. 9 Pacific and then-No. 11 UC Davis. Pina collected a total of 33 saves and two steals through three games, while posting a career-high 12 saves in the matchup against the Aggies.
GOLDEN SUCCESS The Bears have won 17 NCAA championships, including three out of the last four, making Cal the winningest program in men's water polo history. During Kirk Everist's tenure as a head coach, he has been named the ACWPC National Coach of the Year five times (2006, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023), and the Bears have won six national championships (2006, 2007, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023) amid his 24 seasons at the helm. Last season, Cal earned four All-MPSF honors, led by first-team selection Max Casabella. George Avakian and Albert Ponferrada received second-team honors, while Jake Howerton was named an honorable mention.
FAMILIAR FACES Cal returns 13 student-athletes from a season ago, including William Kelly, Bende Pardi and Nik Mirkovic, who each surpassed 20 goals during the 2024 season. Goalkeeper Riley Clansen returns after making an appearance in 14 games last season, registering 423 minutes and 87 saves. Senior Albert Ponferrada returns after totaling the second-most assists (48) in the MPSF during 2024.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK The Bears welcomed 11 newcomers, including seven freshmen: Beso Akvlediani (Attacker), Kai Inoue (Attacker), Tomas Perrone (Attacker), Aran Pina (Goalkeeper), Gigo Sarimsakci (Center), Patrick Stice (Utility) and Milan Sumich (Defender). The 2025 roster will also feature three transfers: Luke Bachler (Attacker), Dominic Brown (Center) and Chase Wilson (Center), and one graduate student: Loui Schuler (Utility).
STAY POSTED For further coverage of Cal men's water polo, follow the Bears on X/ Twitter (@CalWaterPolo) and Instagram (@calmwaterpolo).
<td>No. 1 UCLA14 No. 4 Stanford11 This post was updated Oct. 7 at 11:43 p.m.Taking the upper hand against top opponents requires focus and grit.Doing it four times in two weeks shows hunger to top it all off.No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo (17-0, 2-0 MPSF) kicked off conference play Saturday in Berkeley, defeating No. 2 California (12-2, 1-1) 14-7 at the Spieker Aquatics Complex. It followed up t...
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This post was updated Oct. 7 at 11:43 p.m.
Taking the upper hand against top opponents requires focus and grit.
Doing it four times in two weeks shows hunger to top it all off.
No. 1 UCLA men’s water polo (17-0, 2-0 MPSF) kicked off conference play Saturday in Berkeley, defeating No. 2 California (12-2, 1-1) 14-7 at the Spieker Aquatics Complex. It followed up the feat with a 14-11 victory against No. 4 Stanford (8-4, 0-2) at the Avery Aquatic Center on Sunday.
The Bruins beat both conference rivals during the MPSF Invitational in Westwood two weekends ago, besting both by just a combined three points. However, the scorelines widened this time around, with UCLA earning a positive goal difference of 10 across the two games.
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“It was nice to play more comfortably this time,” redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nate Tauscher said. “After seeing them the first time – seeing those shots from their good players – they made me feel better about myself in goal.”
The Bruins held the Golden Bears to their lowest goal tally of the season, with Tauscher making a then-season-high 12 saves.
Offensively, UCLA won Saturday’s first two quarters 3-1 and 3-2, respectively, and widened the scoreline significantly to six goals during the third quarter on the back of a pair of goals from sophomore attacker Ryder Dodd.
While the Golden Bears outshot the Bruins 33 to 22, UCLA’s 64% shot-to-goal ratio erased that deficit, and this efficiency was spread across the roster’s depth, with nine different scorers.
Dodd ended the contest with a game-leading six points, including four goals, and redshirt junior attacker Frederico Jucá Carsalade scored a pair to round out a statement Bruin victory against California.
“I was able to capitalize on the attention that my teammates were drawing,” Dodd said. “At the end of the day, it is what we’ve been working on in practice every day.”
Dodd played a similar role in the Bruins’ first matchup of the season, leading them with a five-goal performance – one of his four five-goal games this season.
On Sunday against Stanford, an early UCLA lead was reversed by five Cardinal goals across the second and third quarters, creating a 10-9 deficit for the Bruins entering the fourth frame. Stanford driver Ben Forer breached the Bruin defense six times.
However, a 5-1 rally in the final period allowed UCLA to hold onto its undefeated record, with its 20th straight victory dating back to 2024. In their previous contest against the Cardinal, the Bruins faced a similar predicament heading into the fourth quarter – down by two goals but coming away with a narrow one-goal victory.
Both Dodd and Carsalade followed their Saturday performances with four and three-goal outputs, respectively, against the Cardinal on Sunday. Carsalade’s hat trick brings his season goal total to 14.
The Bruins led the game in steals, with 10 to the Cardinals’ two. Additionally, Tauscher notched a career-high 14 saves, showcasing the back-and-forth nature of the contest.
“The fourth quarter – the way we were crashing on the ball and getting our hands on the ball and blocking – things came around,” coach Adam Wright said. “To come back after a tough game yesterday and back it up today and find a way in the fourth quarter against one of the top teams in the country … is big.”
UCLA will face both Stanford and California one final time in the regular season in four weeks. In the meantime, the Bruins will return home to play Princeton on Oct. 11 before continuing conference play against crosstown rival USC on Oct. 18 in a rematch of last year’s NCAA title match.
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