LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The 11th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team (12-13) earned the No. 3 seed in the Western Water Polo Association Tournament, it was announced on Monday morning. The Tritons are in search of their 15th WWPA title and first since the 2006 campaign. The new format this season features the top eight teams in the WWPA. The Tritons will take on No. 6 seeded Redlands at 11:45 a.m. on Friday. Loyola Marymount, the regular season conference leader is the No. 1 seed. All games will take place in Orange, Calif., hosted by Chapman.
The Lions finished the season 16-7 overall and have been ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation this season to earn the No. 1 seed.
Following LMU will be No. 2 Air Force Academy, No. 3 UC San Diego, No. 4 Santa Clara, No. 5 UC Davis, No. 6 Redlands, No. 7 Whittier and No. 8 Chapman.
Game No. 1 of the 2009 WWPA Championships at the Zee Allred Aquatics Center will feature No. 2 Air Force taking on No. 7 Whittier at 10 a.m. Air Force finished the regular season 17-12 and 10-4 in the WWPA. They will take on SCIAC runner-up Whittier, who finished 18-12 overall and 11-7 against WWPA opponents.
Game No. 2 at 11:45 a.m., of the eight-team tournament, will feature No. 3 UC San Diego taking on No. 6 Redlands. UC San Diego enters the tournament 12-13 overall and 8-5 against WWPA opponents, four of the setbacks were to No. 1 LMU. Redlands defeated Claremont 4-2 in the SCIAC Championships on Sunday, Nov. 15, and enters the WWPAs 17-16 overall and 12-5 in the WWPA.
Game No. 3 at 1:30 p.m., features No. 1 LMU taking on host Chapman, who finished 12-14 overall and 5-6 against the WWPA. The final game is No. 4 Santa Clara taking on No. 5 UC Davis at 3:15 p.m. Santa Clara is 20-11 overall and 10-4 in the WWPA, while UCD is 13-15 overall and 8-7 in league play.
2009 WWPA Championship Seedings:
1. Loyola Marymount
2. Air Force Academy
3. UC San Diego
4. Santa Clara
5. UC Davis
6. Redlands
7. Whitter
8. Chapman
2009 WWPA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, November 21 - Dark Caps vs. White Caps
Game 1 - 10:00 am - #2 Air Force vs. #7 Whittier
Game 2 - 11:45 am - #3 UC San Diego vs. #6 Redlands
Game 3 - 1:30 pm - #1 LMU vs. #8 Chapman
Game 4 - 3:15 pm - #4 Santa Clara vs. #5 UC Davis
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Game 5 - 10:00 am - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
Game 6 - 11:45 pm - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
Game 7 - 1:30 pm - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (Semifinals)
Game 8 - 3:15 pm - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 (Semifinals)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Game 9 - 9:00 am - Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6 (7th Place)
Game 10 - 10:45 am - Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (5th Place)
Game 11 - 12:30 pm - Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8 (3rd Place)
Game 12 - 2:30 pm - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (WWPA Championship)
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students (with ID) and children under 12.
The winner earns an Automatic bid to 41st Annual
National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship at Princeton, Dec. 5-6.
Follow the championships online at www.WesternWaterPolo.org.
