It wasn’t much of a surprise that undefeated MPSF champion UCLA earned the top seed when the NCAA unveiled the women’s water polo championship bracket on Monday. While the Bruins, who will play Wagner (23-7) in the first round next Friday, were virtually assured of that spot, a host of other teams remained on edge […]
Author Archives: Bryan Chu
W. water polo: Women’s water polo wins MPSFs
It’s become somewhat of a banal routine for the Bruins, hearing the final horn, then trotting over to the losing team, and sticking out their hands in acknowledgement of a good game. After dismantling No. 3 Stanford 9-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship game, the UCLA women’s water polo team clinched its 30th […]
W. polo: An Olympic path back to school
Dumbfounded, then flustered, and finally frustrated. Those were the emotions that passed through each and every one of the players on the 2004 U.S. women’s water polo Olympic team which won the bronze medal. But third place was nowhere near good enough for a team heavily favored to claim the gold. With just 30 seconds […]
The right look
Hidden behind a bush near the top of Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, a shadowy figure peered down at the pool through his binoculars during a UCLA men’s water polo practice last November, looking for a face to fit Abercrombie & Fitch’s new ad campaign. Little did Brad Greiner know that it would be his. But […]
W. polo: Emotional win for UCLA over Stanford
Facing arch rival Stanford on the road in what may have been his team’s last formidable test before the postseason, UCLA women’s water polo coach Adam Krikorian knew Friday night’s game would be hotly contested. He knew the game was going to be physical and at times tempers would definitely flair. But little did he […]
W. polo: Bruins face Cardinal test
The end is near. Yet before the top-ranked UCLA women’s water polo team can even begin to think about the postseason, it will have its biggest test of its remaining regular season today, on the road against rival Stanford. Though there has not been much parity between the undefeated Bruins and their opponents this season, […]
W. polo: Practice, not competition, keeps water polo sharp
The players may be smiling and laughing, even when going through one of the most grueling practices in collegiate water polo. With arms interlocking and legs eggbeatering for sheer survival, the UCLA women’s water polo team simulates the “drowning” exercise, designed to mimic what occurs in the pool when players tug, lean and pull each […]