The No. 5 state-ranked Long Beach City College women's water polo team improved to 4-1 in South Coast Conference play after its 18-8 win over visiting Rio Hondo College on Wednesday. The Vikings will return to the pool later tonight when they travel to face rival Golden West College in a 7:30 p.m. non-conference game.

Against Rio Hondo, Long Beach (11-4 overall) stormed out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back. LBCC head coach Chris Oeding played his reserves during the final three quarters, enabling them to get some valuable time in the pool.

Long Beach led 9-1 after the opening quarter and was up 11-2 at halftime.

Freshman driver Jessica Muro came off the bench to lead the Vikings with three goals.

Sophomores Allison Zell and Christine Meier both scored two goals in the first quarter and freshmen Jessica Qualmann and Nicole Scholnick also scored twice.

Sophomore goalie Lindsay Smith posted four saves during the first and second quarters and freshman April Hernandez closed out the win with three saves during the second half.

The loss dropped Rio Hondo to 1-11 overall and 1-4 in the SCC.

Photo: Sophomore Allison Zell fires a shot in the win (Photo by Chris Ruiz)