Now the real season begins. After opening the year with three
easy wins, the top-ranked UCLA women’s water polo team is
scheduled to travel north to face its first real test of the season
at the Stanford Invitational this weekend.
Entering a field that includes six of the top seven teams in the
nation, including all four NCAA Tournament participants from last
year, the Bruins will be able to see where they stand as they make
a run toward defending their national title.
“I feel curious. I’m curious to see how we do this
weekend,” said coach Adam Krikorian.
“It’s a great barometer for us. I think we’ll
get a great idea of where we stand, and more importantly,
we’ll get a great idea of our strengths and
weaknesses,” he added.
After completing a dominant undefeated season last year, UCLA is
looking at this weekend as its first test in defending its national
championship.
The Bruins know, though, that they now wear a bull’s-eye
squarely on their chests, as each and every team is gunning to end
UCLA’s 36-game winning streak.
“It’s important to go into the first tournament with
everything you have,” said senior Thalia Munro.
“It’s the first time that teams are going to feel you,
and that impression you make there is going to stand out for the
rest of the season.”
Tournament play opens with teams that have been split into two
brackets. The winner of each bracket will advance to the
championship match Sunday afternoon.
To reach the final, the Bruins will first have to open with No.
6 Cal and No. 5 Hawai’i on Saturday, then No. 16 Arizona
State on Sunday morning.
Stanford, USC, Michigan and San Jose State make up the
opposite
bracket.
The physical nature of water polo makes the prospect of playing
four games over two days a potentially daunting task.
However, UCLA has the talent and depth to help keep the team
fresh over the course of the weekend.
“We’re definitely going to have to rely on our
depth,” said goalkeeper Emily Feher. “It’ll take
a toll on us. By the end of Sunday, we’ll all be really
tired, but I think we’ll rely on our bench even more than
other teams can.”
With rivals USC and Stanford, both ranked in the top three in
the nation, placed in the opposite bracket, a potential meeting
can’t occur until the final.
However, the Bruins won’t be looking past anybody, as they
expect a stiff test from every team they face as they try to repeat
as tournament champions.
“We’re concentrating on our own bracket
first,” Feher said. “I think both games are going to be
really tough on that first day, and we can’t overlook ASU
either. Hopefully, we can do well.”
“In this tournament, I think every team that we play is
going to challenge us and really compete,” Krikorian said.
“I’m curious to see how our girls respond.”