Saturday, September 11
Redlands, CA
10 am MT
Air Force Academy
at
University of Redlands
Air Force travels to Inland Empire Tournament
9/8/2021 7:35:00 AM | Men's Water Polo
This Week: Air Force (3-0 overall, 0-0 WWPA) travels to Redlands, Calif., for the annual Inland Empire Tournament, Sept. 11-12. The Falcons will face the host school, Redlands (0-2), Sept. 11, at 11 am PT, followed by a game against Chapman (0-1) later that day at 4 pm PT. On Sunday, Sept. 12, Air Force will face Ottawa University (0-1) at 9 am PT and eighth-ranked Long Beach State (4-0) at 2:45 pm PT.
Series Records: Air Force and Redlands will meet for the 41st time and the Falcons hold a 29-11 lead in the series. The teams last met in 2019 in the Rare Air Challenge, a 15-7 win for the Falcons. Air Force and Chapman meet for the 23rd time and the Falcons hold a 21-1 lead in that series. Air Force defeated Chapman, 21-13, in 2019 at the Academy. The last time the teams met in California, Chapman won, 15-14, in 2018. Air Force and Ottawa meet for the first time ever. Ottawa played in Air Force's tournament in 2019 and earlier this season, but the two teams have never played each other. Long Beach State holds a 34-8 lead in the all-time series against the Falcons. LBSU defeated Air Force in 2019 in California, 17-8. The last Air Force win came in 1997.
Rare Air Challenge Champions: Air Force won the Rare Air Challenge, Sept. 4-5, at the Cadet Natatorium. Senior Grant Snyder scored a career-high nine goals in a 15-7 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the opening game. Air Force then defeated Mt. San Antonio College, 20-10, in an exhibition game. On the final day, Air Force held off McKendree for a 17-10 win in the first game. Snyder and fellow senior Sam Fuller each had four goals and Anthony Tolbert made nine saves. Air Force led 7-0 in the first quarter and 10-2 at the half. McKendree battled back to make the score 13-10 in the fourth, but Air Force scored the final four goals for the win. In the final game of the tournament, Air Force defeated previously unbeaten California Lutheran, 16-9. Fuller and Gavin Jones each scored three and Snyder netted two more in the victory. A.J. Kuypers made six saves, including several timely ones in a close game early.
All-American Grant Snyder: Senior Grant Snyder, a second-team All-American last season, picked up right where he left off last season. Snyder had a career-best nine goals in a season-opening win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. He had 15 goals in the first three games of the season and currently leads in the nation in goal per game. Snyder, from Springville, Calif., ranked in the top 10 in the nation in nearly every statistical category last season. He was third in the nation in points (50), sixth in goals (33), sixth in assists (17) and seventh in steals (19). He also led the nation in sprint victories with 32.
2020 WWPA Champions: Air Force won its first ever WWPA regular season championship in 2020 with a perfect 2-0 record in conference play. The Falcons defeated Loyola Marymount, 15-13 in overtime, and Cal Baptist, 15-14, in overtime, in designated conference games. Air Force was the No. 1 seed in the WWPA Tournament for the first time ever, but fell to Cal Baptist, 11-9, in the title game. Air Force finished the season ranked eighth in the nation. The Falcons finished the season with a 4-7 overall record.
Series Records: Air Force and Redlands will meet for the 41st time and the Falcons hold a 29-11 lead in the series. The teams last met in 2019 in the Rare Air Challenge, a 15-7 win for the Falcons. Air Force and Chapman meet for the 23rd time and the Falcons hold a 21-1 lead in that series. Air Force defeated Chapman, 21-13, in 2019 at the Academy. The last time the teams met in California, Chapman won, 15-14, in 2018. Air Force and Ottawa meet for the first time ever. Ottawa played in Air Force's tournament in 2019 and earlier this season, but the two teams have never played each other. Long Beach State holds a 34-8 lead in the all-time series against the Falcons. LBSU defeated Air Force in 2019 in California, 17-8. The last Air Force win came in 1997.
Rare Air Challenge Champions: Air Force won the Rare Air Challenge, Sept. 4-5, at the Cadet Natatorium. Senior Grant Snyder scored a career-high nine goals in a 15-7 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the opening game. Air Force then defeated Mt. San Antonio College, 20-10, in an exhibition game. On the final day, Air Force held off McKendree for a 17-10 win in the first game. Snyder and fellow senior Sam Fuller each had four goals and Anthony Tolbert made nine saves. Air Force led 7-0 in the first quarter and 10-2 at the half. McKendree battled back to make the score 13-10 in the fourth, but Air Force scored the final four goals for the win. In the final game of the tournament, Air Force defeated previously unbeaten California Lutheran, 16-9. Fuller and Gavin Jones each scored three and Snyder netted two more in the victory. A.J. Kuypers made six saves, including several timely ones in a close game early.
All-American Grant Snyder: Senior Grant Snyder, a second-team All-American last season, picked up right where he left off last season. Snyder had a career-best nine goals in a season-opening win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. He had 15 goals in the first three games of the season and currently leads in the nation in goal per game. Snyder, from Springville, Calif., ranked in the top 10 in the nation in nearly every statistical category last season. He was third in the nation in points (50), sixth in goals (33), sixth in assists (17) and seventh in steals (19). He also led the nation in sprint victories with 32.
2020 WWPA Champions: Air Force won its first ever WWPA regular season championship in 2020 with a perfect 2-0 record in conference play. The Falcons defeated Loyola Marymount, 15-13 in overtime, and Cal Baptist, 15-14, in overtime, in designated conference games. Air Force was the No. 1 seed in the WWPA Tournament for the first time ever, but fell to Cal Baptist, 11-9, in the title game. Air Force finished the season ranked eighth in the nation. The Falcons finished the season with a 4-7 overall record.
Players Mentioned
AT
/ Men's Water Polo
C/D
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water Polo
UT
/ Men's Water Polo
G
/ Men's Water PoloRyan Brown Interview Sept 9, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
Falcons complete Rare Air Invite 5-0
Sunday, September 07
Falcons go 2-0 on first day of Rare Air Invite
Saturday, September 06
Rare Air Water Polo Invitational - Day 2
Thursday, September 04
