This post was updated Jan. 26 at 6:35 p.m.

Once a flower blooms, the key to keeping it alive is nourishment.

And with two seasons removed from an undefeated campaign and a national title, the Bruins began 2026 watering their newly planted roots.

No. 3 UCLA women’s water polo (2-0) took down No. 9 Fresno State (5-3) 14-6 Sunday morning before defeating No. 6 Long Beach State (5-2) 18-7 in the afternoon at the Brigitte Donner Daws Memorial Invitational at the Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley. The Bruins allowed just 13 goals across both matches while scoring 32 of their own.

“Everything for us starts with our defense,” said interim co-head coach Jason Falitz. “We’ve put a big focus on our defense, and what that does for us (is) to set us up to be successful in the other phases of the game. Today was a great example of how we want to play.”

Twelve different Bruins found the back of the net Sunday, with senior attacker Taylor Smith leading the arsenal, accumulating seven goals throughout the day on a 0.636 shot percentage.

Senior utility Anna Pearson and sophomore attacker Tali Stryker slotted behind Smith on the score sheet, combining for 11 goals.

“Taylor’s had a great offseason,” Falitz said. “She’s trying to have a really special year. She stepped into a big leadership role, and her confidence has been growing, and she’s showing it in the water. … She’s approaching the goal with confidence, she’s hitting shots that she’s supposed to hit, but she’s also leading the situation.”

Although the squad underwent a coaching change just over a month ago, UCLA has flourished through adversity – a result of Smith and other seniors fostering the same environment before the beginning of the season to ease the transition.

[Related: Women’s water polo coach Adam Wright to step away from day-to-day duties]

But it is not just the players on the roster easing the change.

Falitz’s new title has not altered anything.

The new head honcho has maintained the program’s structure and grown relationships, even more so in his new stint at the helm.

“We used to always say he was kind of like the fun uncle, and we have a great relationship with him,” Smith said. “We can joke around with him but also be serious at the same time. The head coach changed, but basically, all the principles stayed the same, all the details stayed the same, which has made the transition a lot easier.”

The continuity of the Bruins’ core principles and culture showed in their play as they held the Bulldogs and the Beach to just .194 and .200 shot percentages, respectively. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Steele racked up 25 combined saves and posted over an .800 save percentage in both matchups.

And UCLA will have its next opportunity to further develop its confidence at the Triton Invitational in San Diego starting Friday.

“This weekend was a good start, and we got to see where we were at, but I think we all know that we have a lot of work to do,” Pearson said.