It’s been a time-honored tradition for every NCAA
Championship-bound UCLA women’s water polo team since the
inception of the program.
Before boarding the plane to the NCAA Championships, UCLA drives
out to an undisclosed spot in Malibu and watches the sun set over
Point Doom.
On Tuesday evening, the Bruins almost missed it.
But as they ran up the hill to catch a final glimpse of the sun
before it descended below the horizon, the players were given one
more opportunity to relish in the tradition of sharing their
memories and reflections of this past season and of past UCLA
teams.
“It helps put things in perspective,” sophomore
Emily Feher said. “Just to think of all the teams in the
past, all the great teams, those that have won titles and those
that fell short, and realize that we are all a small part of a
tradition, is special.”
“I’m so excited to see the freshmen being a part of
this,” senior Natalie Golda said. “The sophomores
understand what it’s like to be going for a title, realizing
that the finish is near. I can’t wait.”
The excitement has gotten to a lot of these players, as the wait
finally ends when top-ranked UCLA (30-0) begins its NCAA
Championship quest in Ann Arbor, Mich., today against No. 8 Wagner
in the first round.
The Bruins, who are seeking a second title in three years, are
so eager to jump into the pool that some have even begun to picture
water polo in their sleep during their two-week layoff between the
conference championships and NCAA Championships.
For Thalia Munro, whose last championship ring came four years
ago, the wait has been unbearable.
“I’m hungry for another one,” she said.
“I’m ready to get another one. I’m ready to win a
championship. I need to. I need to win.”
As the heavy favorites to win it all, the Bruins are fully
expected to dispose of unranked Wagner (23-7) and move onto the
NCAA semifinals. Once there, however, the Bruins will draw the
winner of the No. 4 Hawai’i v. No. 5 Loyola Marymount match.
While both teams boast international players, Hawai’i, a more
physical team, will be the favorite to emerge, having defeated the
Lions 9-6 in the regular season.
Against UCLA, Hawai’i stands as a very formidable
opponent. Known for stirring it up inside two-meters, the Rainbow
Wahine are one of the few teams that can keep pace with the Bruins,
along with No. 2 USC and No. 3 Stanford.
In the teams’ last bout during the Mountain Pacific Sports
Federation Tournament, the Bruins defeated the Rainbow Wahine 10-5,
but were pushed to the limit in two regular-season contests,
winning 13-8 and 6-5.
“The first game we didn’t know what to expect, so
they kind of took us by surprise a little bit,” Golda said.
“So the second game we knew they were competitors and we
didn’t have a very good game, but we were able to pull out
the win.”
“But we played our game in the conference tournament and
if we do that not many teams can hang with us. It’s just a
matter of us showing up.”
If UCLA continues to play its game it will most likely square
off against either the Trojans or Cardinal in the title game.
Although USC has beaten Stanford in two of the teams’ three
meetings, the Trojans were trounced in their final meeting in the
conference semifinals, 9-5.
When it comes to having a preference to face one team over the
other, the Bruins are apathetic.
“To be honest, I don’t care,” sophomore Kelly
Rulon said. “I just think it doesn’t matter who we
play, we’re ready for anyone.”
“Doesn’t matter, you throw anyone out there
we’re going to be stoked to play,” UCLA coach Adam
Krikorian said. “We’re going to be energetic,
enthusiastic and all over the place, playing our butts
off.”
But when it comes to the final game, if the Bruins manage to win
it all, they will undoubtedly be left with the question the entire
water polo community has tossed around this whole season: Is UCLA
the best team ever assembled?
“I’m positive on May 15, I will be able to give an
honest answer,” Krikorian said. “But, as of right now I
would like to think this team is very talented, very determined and
has great chemistry as well. We’re doing all the right things
and we’re on the right track.”