1. WOMEN’S TENNIS: UCLA WINS FIRST NATIONAL TITLE
After falling in the NCAA finals the previous year, coach Stella Sampras-Webster led the Bruins to 4-0 victory over California to claim the program’s first NCAA title. Bruin star Riza Zalameda, who clinched the match at court No. 1, would win the doubles title with fellow senior Tracy Lin a week later.
2. FOOTBALL: UCLA NABS TERRIFIC TRIO OF COACHES
Following a disappointing season, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero hired a native son, Bruin alumnus Rick Neuheisel, to right the ship of UCLA football. Later, Neuheisel succeeded in obtaining the services of offensive mastermind Norm Chow, as well as retaining defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, a rising star in the coaching ranks.
3. MEN’S GOLF: KEVIN CHAPPELL, UCLA WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
After dedicating his season to his late brother, senior Kevin Chappell rallied a talented UCLA squad to their first national title in 20 years. Chappell, who also captured the individual crown, rebounded with a spectacular chip in on the 17th hole after depositing his tee shot in the water, enabling the Bruins to defeat Pac-10 rivals Stanford and USC for the win.
4. MEN’S BASKETBALL: UCLA REACHES 3RD CONSECUTIVE FINAL FOUR
Armed with All-American center Kevin Love, coach Ben Howland guided his Bruins to college basketball’s promise land for the third straight year. Along the way, the star guard tandem of Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison created their own highlight reel, including a series of high-flying dunks. UCLA fought from a 10-point second-half deficit for a second-round victory over Texas A&M before defeating Western Kentucky and Xavier to win the Phoenix Regional.
5. WOMEN’S WATER POLO: UCLA CAPTURES FOURTH STRAIGHT NCAA TITLE – NO. 101
Coach Adam Krikorian did it again, guiding the version’s squad to an undefeated record en route to UCLA’s 101st NCAA Championship. In the tournament final, UCLA’s defense shut down crosstown rival USC with a 6-3 win. With the victory, seniors Gabrielle Domanic, Brittany Rowe, Courtney Mathewson, Jillian Kraus and Kamaile Crowell accumulated four national titles during their careers in Westwood.
6. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: TEAM HANDS UPSET LOSS TO NO. 2 STANFORD
With a bevy of young talent, UCLA’s women’s basketball team was looking for a signature win. They got it on Jan. 4th, 2008, by stunning perennial power and national runner-up Stanford, then ranked No. 2, at Pauley Pavilion. The win was the biggest upset in the tenure of departed coach Kathy Olivier and showed the promise for next year’s squad. New coach Nikki Caldwell will take over the coaching duties for next season, hoping to fulfill greater expectations.
7. MEN’S BASKETBALL: COLLISON ANNOUNCES RETURN
Taking almost every hour he possibly could to think through his decision, UCLA point guard Darren Collison announced he would return for his senior season April 26. His announcement, which came less than 48 hours before the deadline to declare, allowed UCLA fans to breath a huge sigh of relief. In the two weeks prior to Collison’s announcement, fans watched Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute all declare for the NBA Draft. A day after Collison’s announcement, UCLA swingman Josh Shipp also announced he would declare, making Collison the sole starter to remain for the 2008 season.
8. WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS: TASHA SCHWIKERT NABS SECOND CAREER ALL-AROUND TITLE
With a score of 39.6 in Session II of the 2008 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Team Preliminaries, Tasha Schwikert finished her career as she began it. After winning the All-Around Title her freshman year, Schwikert helped her team to a fourth-place finish in the session with the second individual title of her career. With the win, Schwikert became the first UCLA gymnast ever to win two career NCAA all-around championships. Schwikert battled though the session, fighting an Achilles injury as well as a cold while she competed.
9. MEN’S TENNIS: TEAM EXCEEDES EXPECTATIONS, REACHES NCAA SEMIFINALS
Coach Billy Martin succeeded in piloting a youthful squad rattled by injuries to another Pac-10 crown and a deep run through the NCAA Tournament. After winning the pivotal doubles point to begin their quarterfinal match against crosstown rival USC, the Bruins bested the Trojans for the third time in the 2008 season. UCLA’s run would end the following round with a loss to Texas, but with a pool of promising young players, the future of Martin’s squad appears bright.
10. MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD: TEAM SENDS 25 ATHLETES TO NATIONALS
The men’s track and field team used a strong third-place finish at the West Region Championships to earn 13 bids to the national meet in Des Moines, Iowa, starting Wednesday. The women’s team, coached by Jeanette Bolden, received 12 bids, after placing a surprising second at the West Region Championships. Junior star Nicole Leach will be looking to defend her NCAA Championship from a year ago in the 400-meter hurdles.
Compiled by Daily Bruin senior staff.