The final game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament was a mirror image of last year’s matchup with just one slight difference. Instead of dueling it out for the championship title like last season, both No. 2 UCLA (24-4, 5-1 MPSF) and No. 6 California (21-10, 2-4) were trying to secure the third-place finish […]
Author Archives: Savannah Shapiro
Women’s water polo coach seeks fourth MPSF tournament title
In six seasons as UCLA’s women’s water polo coach, Brandon Brooks has led the Bruins to three Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament titles. This upcoming weekend, Brooks aims to make it his fourth. “We go out there and try to play as well as we can and if that results in a conference championship, then […]
Women’s water polo ace India Forster prepares for life after UCLA
It was India Forster’s freshman year at Agoura Hills High School and it was time to run the mile after volleyball practice. Forster hated running and looked for any way to avoid the mandatory mile, and luckily for her, there happened to be an alternative. “You didn’t have to run the mile if you played […]
Bruins trounce Sun Devils 16-6 in front of full stadium
The stands in Spieker Aquatics Center were full for the first time this season. The sea of blue clashed with the red ASU Sun Devil T-shirts filling the stands. Players from the U.S. Women’s National water polo team sat front row and the UCLA Alumni Band played the summer time classic “Sweet Caroline.” “That atmosphere […]
Women’s water polo competes against flawless USC for No.1 spot
The shot clock had expired, the pool was quiet and UCLA digested the 10-7 loss to crosstown rival USC at the UC Irvine Invitational. It was the second loss of the season and the same story for the Bruins – an all too familiar loss to an all too familiar opponent. “Throughout the game in […]
Bruins’ counter attacks against Spartans lead to six-game win streak
With less than seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, junior attacker Kelsey O’Brien was still looking for a way to add to UCLA’s four goal lead. O’ Brien broke out in a sprint toward the opposing net and sent a shot sailing past the San Jose State goalie Alicia Magliocco. The attacker’s goal was […]
Lifelong passion for water polo takes Rachel Fattal to Rio 2016
Swim lanes were rolled up, water polo nets were flung into the pool and the local water polo club began warming up for practice. Four-year-old Rachel Fattal floated amidst the activity, waiting for her parents to pick her up from a swimming lesson. The curious kid drifted over to a clump of yellow Mikasa water […]