The 2019 UCLA Bruins
Photo by: Don Liebig, UCLA Photography
No. 3 UCLA Opens NCAA Play with No. 6 Michigan
May 09, 2019 | Women's Water Polo
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STANFORD, Calif. โ No. 3 UCLA (23-6) opens play in the 2019 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship against No. 6 Michigan (23-8) on Friday, May 10 at 5:15 p.m. PT/8:15 p.m. ET at Stanford's Avery Aquatic Center.
Series History
USC: The Bruins lead the overall series, 50-33. The Bruins have lost three meetings in 2019 to the Trojans, including a 10-3 decision in the finals of the Triton Invitational (Feb. 10), a 9-8 setback on "Senior Day" at UCLA (Apr. 20) and a 9-4 loss in the MPSF Semifinals (Apr. 27). STANFORD: The Cardinal lead the overall series, 50-35, after defeating the Bruins twice in 2019. Stanford posted a 10-4 win in the semifinals of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Feb. 23) and a 7-6 home win in MPSF play (Apr. 6). CALIFORNIA: The Bruins lead the overall series, 58-13. UCLA is 2-1 against the Golden Bears in 2019. Cal posted their win in overtime, 7-6, in the third-place game of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Feb. 24). The Bruins beat Cal a week later, 9-7, to open MPSF play at home (Mar. 3). The Bruins won the last meeting, 7-6, to capture third place at the MPSF Championship (Apr. 28). HAWAI'I: The Bruins lead the overall series, 51-3. UCLA defeated Hawai'i once in 2019, posting a 12-8 home win (Feb. 1). MICHIGAN: The Bruins lead the overall series, 25-0, after defeating the Wolverines twice in 2019. UCLA beat Michigan, 9-7, at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invitational in the opening weekend of the season (Jan. 20). The Bruins also defeated the Wolverines, 15-5, in the quarterfinals of the Barbara Kalbus Invitational (Feb. 23). PACIFIC: The Bruins lead the overall series, 24-0, after one win over the Tigers in 2019, a 10-7 home win (Mar. 29). UC SAN DIEGO: The Bruins lead the overall series, 30-3. While UCLA hasn't faced the Tritons in 2019, the Bruins did post two victories over UCSD in 2018, most recently a 10-2 win in the quarterfinals of the Triton Invitational on Feb. 10, 2018.
Recapping Last Outing
No. 3 UCLA (23-6) captured third place at the MPSF Championship on Sunday afternoon with a 7-6 win over No. 4 California (16-7) at Stanford's Avery Aquatics Center.ย Junior Maddie Musselman led all scorers with three goals against the Golden Bears. Seniorย Carlee Kapanaย got the starting nod in the cage for UCLA and went the distance, registering 12 saves while allowing six goals.
MPSF Honors
For the third time in as many years, junior attacker Maddie Musselman was named a member of the All-MPSF First Team. Earning Second Team All-MPSF accolades was junior attacker Bronte Halligan while senior goalkeeper Carlee Kapanaย earned honorable mention plaudits. Attacker Val Ayala and center Ava Johnsonย rounded out the list of honorees as MPSF All-Newcomer Team selections. Musselman was later named to the MPSF All-Tournament Team in 2019.
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Best Start for Bruins Since 2008
Before its 10-3 loss to No. 1 USC in the championship game of the Triton Invitational (Feb. 9), the UCLA Bruins opened the 2019 season at 13-0, which is the best start in 11 years. In 2008, the Bruins went 33-0, winning the program's seventh NCAA Championship.
Bruins in the MPSF Stats
Just one Bruin is currently ranked in the top 25 in the MPSF in scoring, and that is juniorย Maddie Musselman, at 2.29ย goals per game (55 goals in 24 games), which ranks 4th in the league. In the goalie rankings, senior Carlee Kapana ranks 2nd in saves per game (9.87 spg). Kapanaย also ranks 3rd in the MPSF in goals against average at 6.65.
Ava Johnson Named MPSF/KAP7ย Newcomer of the Week
UCLA freshmanย Ava Johnsonย (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas HS) was named the MPSF/KAP7ย Newcomer of the Week as announced by the league office on April 9.ย The freshman center scored two goals in two games as the Bruins nearly pulled off an upset at No. 1 Stanford (Apr. 6) and later posted a 13-3 win at No. 18 San Jose State (Apr. 7).ย Against the Cardinal, Johnson scored one goal on one shot, UCLA's first goal of the game in the third quarter and one which sparked a 5-0 run after a 4-0 deficit. She drew four exclusions and added one field block in that game.ย Playing only in the first half at San Jose State, Johnson scored once on her only shot. She also drew four exclusions, and had one steal and one field block against the Spartans.ย This is the second career MPSF weekly honor for Johnson..
Maddie Musselman Named MPSF/KAP7ย Player of the Week
UCLA'sย Maddie Musselmanย (Newport Beach, CA/Corona Del Mar HS/Laurel Springs Academy) was named the MPSF/KAP7ย Player of the Week as announced by the league office on Mar. 5.ย The junior attacker helped the fourth-ranked Bruins defeat No. 3 California, 9-7, in the MPSF opener for both teams on Sunday, March 3.ย Musselman scored both of her game-high-tying two goals in the second half. Her first goal ended a 4-0 scoring run by Cal to keep UCLA ahead at 6-4 with 0:45 left in the third period. Her second goal was the eventual game-winner with 2:48 remaining in the fourth which put the Bruins up 8-6. She added three drawn exclusions, three field blocks, and one steal.ย She leads the Bruins in scoring with 40 goals in 16 games, which ranks third in the MPSF (2.50 goals per game).ย This is the 10th career MPSF weekly award for Musselman, third as player of the week.
Ava Johnson Named MPSF/KAP7ย Newcomer of the Week
UCLA freshman Ava Johnsonย (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas HS) was named the MPSF/KAP7ย Newcomer of the Week as announced by the league office on Feb. 19.ย The freshman center led the Bruins in scoring with her second hat trick of the season in a 13-10 overtime win over No. 7 UC Irvine (Feb. 16).ย Johnson scored all three goals on power plays, with the first being the only goal of the second period. She would net the eventual game-winning goal in the first overtime period and would add the final score of the game in the second overtime. Johnson also drew a team-high four exclusions in the win.ย She has scored eight goals in her last five outings after scoring just four goals in her first 10 games.ย This is the first career MPSF honor for Johnson.
Val Ayala Named MPSF/KAP7ย Newcomer of the Week
UCLA freshmanย Val Ayalaย (Anaheim, Calif./Foothill HS) was named the MPSF/KAP7ย Newcomer of the Week as announced by the league office on Jan. 22.ย The freshman attacker led the Bruins in scoring this past weekend as UCLAย went 5-0 with five wins over nationally ranked teams.ย Ayala registered three hat tricks, opening her collegiate career with three scores in a 10-6 win over No. 18 CSUN. She completed another hat trick in another 10-6 win over No. 6 UC Irvine. She tacked on one goal in a 17-8 win over No. 24 Cal Baptist and then scored three more in a 9-7 outcome over No. 9 Michigan.ย In all, Ayala scored 10 goals while collecting three assists, three steals and two drawn exclusions. This is the first career MPSF honor for Ayala.
Coaching Changes
During the offseason, UCLA men's water polo hired Christopher Lee as an assistant coach to replace Dustin Litvak, who was hired to be the head men's water polo coach at Princeton.
Wright on Deck
Adam Wright is in his second season as UCLA's head women's water polo coach in 2019 with an overall record of 46-14 (.767) and an MPSF mark of 6-5 (.545).ย On July 20, 2017, UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, announced that Wrightย will guide both the UCLA men's and women's water polo teams.
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Recapping 2018
Overall Record: 23-8 |ย Final Ranking: 4th | NCAA Finish: T-3rd |ย MPSFย Tournament Finish: 4th
UCLA advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament in head coach Adam Wright's first season at the helm of the program. The Bruins' 8-4 win over Pacific at USC secured their eighth consecutive appearance in the national semifinals. Sophomore Maddie Musselman secured ACWPC All-America acclaim for the second time in her career. Senior Devin Grab registered her second selection as a second-team All-American. UCLA also saw Bronte Halligan pick up third-team honors while Carlee Kapana was named an honorable mention All-America selection. In total, 12 Bruins claimed ACWPC All-Academic honors.
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Players Mentioned
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