1986 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship

The 1986 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship was the 18th annual NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship to determine the national champion of NCAA men's collegiate water polo. Tournament matches were played at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, California during December 1986.

1986 NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship

Tournament details
Dates	December 1986
Teams	8
Final positions
Champions	Stanford (6th title)
Runner-up	California (10th title game)
Tournament statistics
Matches played	12
Goals scored	230 (19.17 per match)
Attendance	3,491 (291 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Robert Lynn, USC (12)
Best player	Fernando Carsalade, UCLA) David Imbernino, Stanford) Craig Klass, Stanford)

Stanford defeated rival California in the final, 9–6, to win their sixth national title. Coached by Dante Dettamanti, the Cardinal finished the season undefeated, 36–0.

The Most Outstanding Players of the tournament were Fernando Carsalade (UCLA), David Imbernino (Stanford), and Craig Klass (Stanford). An All-Tournament Team of eight players was also named.

The tournament's leading scorer was Robert Lynn from USC (12 goals).

Qualification

Since there has only ever been one single national championship for water polo, all NCAA men's water polo programs (whether from Division I, Division II, or Division III) were eligible. A total of 8 teams were invited to contest this championship.

Team	Appearance	Previous
Air Force	5th	1981
Brown	8th	1985
California	13th	1984
Navy	2nd	1984
Pepperdine	5th	1984
USC	9th	1984
Stanford	14th	1985
UCLA	15th	1985

Bracket

• Site: Belmont Plaza Pool, Long Beach, California

	Fifth place					Consolation semifinals					First round					Championship semifinals					Championship
											Stanford		23
											Air Force		5
						Air Force		3								Stanford		15
						USC		13								Pepperdine		8
											Pepperdine		10
											USC		9
	USC		8																		Stanford		9
	Navy		3																		California		6
											California		11
											Brown		4
	Seventh place					Brown		4								California		11			Third place
						Navy		6								UCLA		8
	Air Force		13								UCLA		13								Pepperdine		11
	Brown		19								Navy		7								UCLA		12

All-tournament team

• Fernando Carsalade, UCLA (Co-Most outstanding player)
• David Imbernino, Stanford (Co-Most outstanding player)
• Craig Klass, Stanford (Co-Most outstanding player)
• Jeff Brush, California
• Kirk Everist, California
• Erich Fischer, Stanford
• Robert Lynn, USC
• Bill Schoening, California

See also

• NCAA Men's Water Polo Championship