UCLA women’s water polo heads to the University of California Berkeley and the University of the Pacific in Stockton this weekend to show two more teams why they are seven-time national champions and why they are currently ranked No. 1.
Play begins at 7 p.m. tonight against No. 4-ranked Cal under the lights at Spieker Aquatics Complex. Though the Bruins seemingly blew the Bears out of the water 10-2 in early February at the Stanford Invitational Tournament, the Bruins feel they need to be ready for the Bears to come out aggressively.
“I think the Cal game is going to be very difficult,” coach Adam Krikorian said.
“They’re probably very disappointed with the way they played last time we played them,” he said. “I’m sure they’re going to want to prove that that was somewhat of a fluke.”
Cal is coming off a very disappointing one-point loss in overtime (14-13) against No. 8 San Jose State last Saturday. Returning home might provide this struggling team with a spark.
Senior center forward Kacy Kunkel thinks that part of the Bears’ coming out strong means the match will be very physical.
“I’m expecting a really physical game,” Kunkel said.
“We have a target on our chest all the time,” she said, “and Cal is a physical team to begin with.”
Junior driver Courtney Mathewson agreed, but also believes that the Bears will be better prepared to play a skillful team such as the Bruins.
“I think they’re definitely a lot better this time,” Mathewson said, “and it’ll be a lot tougher than last time. That was the first game of the season so we opened up really strong, but this weekend it’s going to be a different game.”
This week, preparing for the Cal game was UCLA’s primary concern.
When asked about playing the defeated UOP Tigers at Chris Kjeldsen Pool this Saturday at noon, the Bruins are confident and undaunted.
“There won’t be a lot of preparation for UOP,” Krikorian said. “This weekend is going to be about what we do, how we play and how we want to play, not necessarily what Cal or UOP does.”
Kunkel believes their basic practicing will be enough to carry them through their game against UOP.
“Our team playing against each other is probably harder than most teams we’re going to face throughout the season,” she asserts.
The next home game for UCLA is Thursday, Feb. 22 at Sunset Canyon Recreational Center at 3 p.m. vs. Hawai’i.