UCLA Picked To Finish Third in MPSF Coaches Poll
January 14, 2013 | Women's Water Polo
Jan. 14, 2013
LOS ANGELES -
The UCLA women's water polo team has been selected to finish in third place among seven teams in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) preseason coaches' poll, as announced by the conference.
Two-time defending NCAA Champion Stanford collected the maximum totals of 36 points and six first-place votes in topping the 2013 MPSF Women's Water Polo Coaches' poll for the fourth consecutive year. The perfect result for the Cardinal is also a repeat feat of last year. Top Returnees include goalkeeper Kate Baldoni, along with reigning MPSF Newcomer of the Year Kiley Neushul, Ashley Grossman, and Melissa Seidemann and Annika Dries from the U.S. National Team.
2012 NCAA runner-up USC placed second in the poll by accumulating 31 points and one first-place vote. Back for the Trojans are All-Americans Flora Bolonyai (GK), Monica Vavic, Dominique Sardo, Kaleigh Gilchrist, and Colleen O'Donnell.
Picked for third is UCLA with 26 points. The Bruins reached the NCAA Semifinals last year, returning a pair of All-Americans in Emily Greenwood.
Collecting 21 points in the middle of the pack is California. The Bears welcome back All-Americans Breda Vosters, Emily Csikos, and Dana Oschner. Arizona State (15), San Jose State (12), and MPSF Women's Water Polo Newcomer CSU Bakersfield (6) finished out the preseason poll. Top players from that group include Sun Devil All-American Alicia Brightwell as well as All-MPSF performer Shannon Haas, Spartan all-conference honoree Anna Natalizio, and Roadrunner first-team All-WWPA Jessica Browning.
The first official sprint to the 2013 season is Friday, January 18. The MPSF conference schedule begins on March 2, while the conference championship tournament will be hosted by the University of California, April 26-28. The winner of that three-day event automatically qualifies for the NCAA Tournament at Harvard, May 10-12.
2013 MPSF PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
| Rank | Team | Points (First-Place) | 2011 Record | 2011 MPSF Record (Finish) |
| 1 | Stanford | 36 (6) | 26-2 | 7-0 (1st) |
| 2 | USC | 31 (1) | 23-6 | 5-2 (T-2nd) |
| 3 | UCLA | 26 | 23-4 | 5-2 (T-2nd) |
| 4 | California | 21 | 18-9 | 4-3 (T-4th) |
| 5 | Arizona State | 15 | 25-6 | 4-3 (T-4th) |
| 6 | San Jose State | 12 | 19-13 | 2-5 (6th) |
| 7 | Cal State Bakersfield | 6 | 24-17 | First Year MPSF |
