LMU women’s water polo returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012 after securing the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) Tournament title last Sunday at the Burns Aquatics Center, their home pool. The Lions defeated Santa Clara University on April 25, San Diego State University on April 26 and continued the three-game weekend victory against Fresno State University on April 27. The team is currently 7-0 in the GCC standings, making them the conference leaders. They are undefeated in conference play and are ranked No. 8 by the Collegiate Water Polo Association.
The Lions celebrated their regular season triumphs with high spirits and big smiles at the Burns Aquatics Center, but perhaps with the biggest smile of all was senior team captain and NCAA tournament MVP Ruth Arino Ruiz.
Senior attacker Ruiz has spent the last four years with the Lions, and the conclusion of this season will mean the conclusion of her time in the pool. However, she is not quite ready to hang up her swimsuit as the team prepares for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
“Every time I think about my last game as a Lion, I just get super sad because the time has literally just flown by,” said Ruiz. “When the team and I had tough moments throughout the year, we really tried to sort it out because I didn’t want my last season and the other seniors’ seasons to end on a bad note. We get to decide how this ends.”
Hailing from Barcelona, Ruiz began playing water polo when she was 13. She grew up competing against older swimmers, which helped her develop extensive experience in the water.
Traveling from her country where water polo is a mainstream sport, Ruiz longed to bring her water polo skills and knowledge to America’s culture of water polo. Since her redshirt freshman season in 2022, Ruiz’s impact was immediate. She led the team with 69 points, tallying 40 goals and 29 assists. Her ability to read defenses and create opportunities set her apart early as a born leader.
Ruiz was named GCC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, finishing with a league-leading 102 goals and lead in conference assists with 64. Ruiz, without question, is a beast.
This year, Ruiz continued to make big splashes. She leads the GCC in all three categories: points, goals and assists. As of April 2025, she claims 36 steals to her name. But beyond her accolades, Ruth is a motivator, a fierce competitor and a friend.
“I hope my teammates remember me as a person that leads by example and that they are inspired by me to not be afraid of speaking your mind, always with respect, but no one should tell you what to say or what not to,” said Ruiz.
As graduation nears and her time as a Lion winds down, Ruiz is not just playing to win — she’s playing to remember and to leave a lasting legacy. So, in her final season, Ruiz is doing just that.
“The most emotional moment was this past weekend. The final 10 seconds of the game when you already know that it’s kinda done,” said Ruiz. “We were already winning by two and we had possession of the ball and we started celebrating but our coaches started screaming, ‘No, no, no, the game isn’t over just yet.’ It was all so emotional.”
Ruiz is defined by her unwavering dedication and leadership. Her journey from a promising freshman to one of the most accomplished players in LMU history is a testament to her passion for the game.
“It’s been a really, really long journey but it is just so rewarding to see everything you do and all the work you put in as a team and individually come together,” said Ruiz.
Ruiz and the entire LMU women’s water polo team will continue to tread water as they face No. 2 seed University of California, Los Angeles on May 9 in first round of the NCAA Tournament.
