UCLA
USC
Bruins Back At No. 1
May 07, 2000 | Women's Water Polo
May 7, 2000
Indianapolis, IN - The UCLA women's water polo team secured its fourth national collegiate title Sunday, defeating defending national champion USC 11-4 in the title game of the 2000 Collegiate Championships hosted by the University of Indiana at the IU Natatorium.
The national championship is the 103rd for UCLA, including 82 NCAA titles. On Saturday, the men's volleyball team won the school's 102nd national championship and 82nd NCAA crown.
Last year, the USC Trojans knocked UCLA out of the Championship match and later went on to secure the title against Stanford, however last year's memory proved to be bittersweet for the No. 2 seed Bruins as they wreaked havoc on the No. 4 seed Trojans Sunday.
From the start, the Bruins came on strong. UCLA's suffocating defense prevented USC from getting any clear shots, while its offense proved unstoppable.
UCLA took an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter behind goals from Kelly Heuchan, Serela Kay and Ashley Stachowski. With seven seconds remaining in the first quarter, USC freshman Katrin Dierolf converted on a six-on-five opportunity after UCLA's Kristin Guerin was ejected. But UCLA was undaunted. In the second quarter, the Bruins erupted with four goals and held USC scoreless, taking a 7-1 lead at the half.
In the second half, both teams registered three goals, but UCLA had already cushioned the win.
The Bruins' defensive efforts were led by freshman goalkeeper Jaime Hipp, who pulled down 10 saves. USC keeper Suzannah Johnson had five saves.
UCLA sophomore All-American Elaine Zivich was named Tournament Most Valuable Player, while senior Catharine von Schwarz, freshman Jessica Lopez and freshman keeper Jaime Hipp earned second team accolades.
The title marks the fourth for the UCLA women's water polo program ('96, '97, '98, '00) and the first for Adam Krikorian as a head coach. Earlier this year, Krikorian and co-head coach Guy Baker celebrated the men's water polo program's sixth NCAA title. Along with the men's and women's water polo crowns, UCLA has earned NCAA titles for the 1999-2000 academic year in women's track and field, women's gymnastics and, just this past Saturday, men's volleyball.
USC 1 0 1 2= 4 UCLA 3 4 2 2= 11
USC: Katrin Dierolf 3, Lisa Saenz.
UCLA: Catharine von Schwarz 3, Kelly Heuchan 2, Jessica Lopez, Serela Kay, Eleanor Murphy, Elaine Zivich, Jenny Lamb, Ashley Stachowski.
Saves: USC- Suzannah Johnson 5, UCLA- Jaime Hipp 10.
