It’s been a downward spiral recently for the UCLA
women’s swim and dive team. Dropping their last two meets
decisively to Cal and Stanford, the Bruins (5-3, 2-3 Pac-10) will
travel and face rival USC on Saturday. In their last regular season
meet before the Pac-10 Championship, the Bruin divers will take on
a Trojan team featuring two Olympian divers, one of which earned a
bronze medal in Athens representing Canada. “We have our
hands full,” UCLA coach Tom Stebbins said. “I think
that if we go out and take care of business, we do what we are
supposed to do, then we are going to be as competitive as can be,
and if that is good enough, great. “If not, it’s
not.” Though the Bruins followed a disappointing effort with
a decent showing against the Bears, Stebbins realizes his team will
have to improve even more if the team is to secure a win over USC.
“We did a nice job against Cal,” Stebbins said.
“But I don’t anticipate that being enough (against the
Trojans).” Stebbins feels the Bruin divers have the talent to
win some events against USC, but they need the right mentality.
“If they can manage themselves the way they managed
themselves performance-wise against Cal, I think we are in a good
position to win some events.” Last season, the Bruins
defeated USC 211.50-88.50.
HEALTHY AND ABLE: As for physical preparation, the older Bruin
divers are healthy enough and to provide a threat to the Trojans.
Despite junior Paige Thompson’s knee injury in the fall, she,
senior Janine Strack and junior Amanda Blong are all fit and hope
to present a united danger to USC. “I think where they are
physically, they really should feel good about things,”
Stebbins said. “A “˜bring it on’ attitude will
help.” HIGH STANDARD: Junior Kim Vandenberg has already
qualified for the NCAA Championships in five different events
““ 50-meter Free, 100m Free, 200m Free, 100m Fly, and 200m
Fly. Already this season, Vandenberg has tallied two top-10
rankings ““ third in the 200m Fly (1:55.69) and sixth in the
100 Fly (53.95).