LA JOLLA, Calif.. ? The 14th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team begins the 2008 season when it hosts the Triton Invitational on September 6-7 at Canyonview Pool.  The Tritons return 11 letterwinners, in addition to senior redshirt ACWP All-Americans Adnan Jerkovic and A.J. Kotanjian.  UCSD also returns its top two scorers from last year in Daniel Garcia and Steven Donohoe.  UCSD earned a No. 2 ranking in the preseason Western Water Polo Association poll, as Loyola Marymount is predicted to win the title. 

After the Triton Invitational, UCSD will travel to Princeton and Northern California, before returning home for its next game at home against LMU on September 25.

Joining UCSD at the 14-team Triton Invitational are USC, Pepperdine, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, Pacific, UC Davis, Loyola Marymount, Air Force, Pomona Pitzer, Redlands, Cal Baptist, Cal Lutheran and Claremont. 

At last year's Triton Invite, UCSD finished fourth.  UCSD won two games on the first day, defeating Pomona Pitzer 19-6 and edging Air Force 15-14.  On the second day, UCSD dropped its semifinal game against UC Santa Barbara 10-8 and lost the third-place game to UC Davis 11-7.

Head Coach Denny Harper, in his 28th season, enters the year in seek of victory No. 500.  Harper finished the 2007 year with 491 career victories.