Entering its final home meet of the 2002-2003 season, the UCLA
women’s swim team (4-1, 2-1 Pac 10) has a strong ally:
history.
When UC San Diego (2-1) arrives at the Sunset Recreation Center
on Saturday to take on the No. 12 Bruins, it will attempt to be the
first UCSD swim team to defeat the Bruins in quite some time.
The Bruins have won eight straight over the Tritons and
continued their dominance over UCSD last season with a 179-83
wallop.
In addition to past meetings with the Tritons, the Bruins’
recent play contributes to their confidence. Though they have been
dry for over a month, having not competed since Dec. 8, the Bruins
are still coming off an impressive showing in their last
competition.
The aquatic Bruins captured the women’s division title at
the Husky Invitational for the second straight year with six
individual champions. Three Bruins automatically qualified for the
national championships with their winning times. Juniors Sara
Platzer and Malin Svahnstrom and freshman Kim Vandenberg all
secured spots in Auburn for the NCAA championships March 20.
Even with history on their side, the Bruins are not overly
optimistic.
“San Diego usually gives us a run for the money,”
head coach Cyndi Gallagher said.
The UCSD meet will be an excellent opportunity for the Bruin
swimmers to get back into a competitive pool after the long
vacation as well as a chance for the coach to solidify her lineup
for the remainder of the Pac-10 season.
“We are trying to pick a travel team against San
Diego,” Gallagher said. “We can only take 19 swimmers
to Stanford and Cal.”
With a difficult conference schedule ahead of them, the Bruins
will look to repeat history Saturday and set the tone for the final
leg of the 2003 season.