MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's water polo team took first place in the CWPA Club Sierra Pacific "B" Division Championship with a 9-3 win over UC Davis' club team on Sunday afternoon at the Aquatics Center.

With the victory, the Bobcats (12-12) earn postseason hardware in their inaugural season and pick up win #12 to finish .500 on the year.

Viviana Luna led the Bobcats with five goals, while Hope Stokes scored three goals and was credited with three assists in the first place match. Jacqueline Azevedo broke open the game's scoring midway through the first quarter.

Other individual notables include two assists from Arianna Martinez and an assist and a steal from Paula Villalta Valle.

Goalkeeper Carlin Rodelo kept the Aggies in check all afternoon as she recorded eight saves and held the opponent scoreless for two different ten minute stretches. Rodelo, who also received standout defensive support from Stokes, didn't allow a first quarter goal. UC Davis was limited to just one goal in each of the final three quarters.

UC Merced led wire-to-wire. Azevedo's first quarter goal was the only score in the first quarter before Stokes doubled the Bobcats lead less than a minute into the second frame. Luna added two goals before halftime and it was 4-1 UC Merced at the break.

The third quarter was Luna's quarter. She scored three goals in the game-defining frame that saw the Bobcats go up 8-2. Stokes also scored in the quarter.

Stokes finalized the games scoring with a goal with 1:31 remaining to put an exclamation point on the first-place match.

Stokes, who tallied a hat trick in all four games this weekend, finished the tournament with 22 total goals.

Stay up to date with everything UC Merced women's water polo in the offseason by following the team on social media at @UCMercedWWP.