Before the season even began, women’s water polo coach
Adam Krikorian thought he knew exactly what he’d get out of
his players.
Krikorian recognized that with the return of sophomore Kelly
Rulon, he’d be welcoming back a celebrated youngster who
possessed a world of skill. But Krikorian wasn’t sure how
freshman center Brittany Rowe would respond.
Yet, now midway through the season, both Bruin players find
themselves the Bruins’ two top scorers, leading top-ranked
UCLA to an undefeated record.
“Recruiting Brittany and watching her in high school, she
was one of the most talented kids I’ve seen, but the one
thing I questioned was her aggressiveness and her toughness,”
Krikorian said.
“But what’s been surprising isn’t necessarily
what she’s doing, but how aggressive she’s playing.
She’s a lot more physical and aggressive than I thought she
would be.”
Rowe, a native of San Diego, possesses the ideal physical body
for a player. Towering at 5-feet-11-inches and using her
ambidextrous ability to her advantage, Rowe has been able to
dominate and fool her defenders on offense.
Despite being tied as the second-leading scorer for the Bruins
at 23 goals, Rowe is still approaching this season as a learning
experience. Rowe has expressed that training with the likes of
Olympians Natalie Golda, Thalia Munro, Amber Stachowski, Rulon and
Gabrielle Domanic has made it difficult and enjoyable at the same
time.
“It’s very exciting to play with them; they’re
very supportive,” Rowe said. “At first I was very
scared playing with all those players, and I’m still trying
to get used to playing with the best players in the
country.”
The situation with Rulon for Krikorian lies on the complete
other side of the spectrum. Since 2003, when the team captured
their most recent NCAA title, Rulon has honed herself into an adept
and menacing offensive threat. Thus far, Rulon has already netted a
Bruin-leading 24 goals, just three shy of what she attained during
her entire freshman campaign.
In Rulon’s mind it’s been the experience that she
spent with the National Team that has helped her game develop the
most.
“I’ve gained more confidence and experience as a
player as I got older,” Rulon said. “My knowledge of
the game and game situations, being able to read what the defense
gives you and being able to explain to other players what’s
going on, I feel I have improved the most.”
As for Krikorian, he sees Rulon under the same light ““ the
driver with a year of international experience who has been able to
put up the numbers she has thus far produced.
“She’s naturally gifted offensively; she has a good
understanding of where she needs to be, and she’s a great
attacker ““ quick, fast,” Krikorian said. “And she
knows how to get herself open at times. Not all great players can
do that.
“With that year of maturity internationally we definitely
expected that out of her.”