Saturday, February 12
San Diego, CA
8:30 AM
UCLA
vs
Santa Clara
Senior Bella Wentzel and No. 3 UCLA (11-0, 2-0 MPSF) heads to UC San Diego for the 2022 Triton Invitational this weekend.
Photo by: Minette Rubin
No. 3 UCLA Heads to Triton Invitational
February 10, 2022 | Women's Water Polo
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LOS ANGELES โ No. 3 UCLA (11-0, 2-0 MPSF) heads to UC San Diego for the 2022 Triton Invitational this weekend. The Bruins will open with Santa Clara (1-1) at 8:30 a.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Canyonview Pool. The outcome will decide the next game. UCLA will face either the winner (at 3:10 p.m.) or loser (at 1:50 p.m.) of the No. 12 UC San Diego/No. 19 San Diego State game. UCSDย will only be able to provide live stats and a live stream for the matches the Tritons are involved in.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Saturday, Feb. 12 (Triton Invitational โ Canyonview Pool)
8:30 AM PT โ Santa Claraย vs. No. 3 UCLA |ย LIVE STATS
1:50 or 3:10 PM PT โ No. 12 UC San Diego or No. 19 San Diego Stateย vs. No. 3 UCLA
Sunday, Feb. 13 (Triton Invitational โย Triton Pool)
TBD โ TBD vs.ย No. 3 UCLA
TBD โ TBDย vs. No. 3 UCLA
SERIES HISTORY
This is the seventh meeting between UCLA and Santa Clara with the Bruins winning all six previous contests. The Bruins won the last meeting with the Broncos, 17-2, in the opening round of the Triton Invitational on Feb. 9, 2019. The Bruins are also 32-3 all-time against UC San Diego and 41-4 against San Diego State. The Bruins beat UCSD earlier this year, 11-6, at the UCSB Winter Invitational (Jan. 23). UCLA last defeated the Aztecs, 22-5, at the Hawai'i Invitational (Mar. 30, 2017).
MUSSELMAN MAKING HER MOVE
After a two-year hiatus to train for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with Team USA, senior attacker Maddie Musselman returns to complete her senior season at UCLA. Musselman tied for the team scoring lead with 18 goals in the Olympics, leading Team USA to its third-straight gold medal and was named the MVP of the Olympic Games. It is the fourth time in her career that she has been named the MVP of a major international tournament as she was named the MVP of the FINA World League Super Final in 2019 and again in 2021. She was also named the MVP of the FINA World Championships in 2017. Additionally, the three-time First-Team All-American was also named the 2021 Women's Total Player of the Year byย (Total Waterpolo). Musselmanย has 213 career goals which ranks fourth all-time on the UCLA career charts. Sheย needs eight more to move into third placeย (3. Rachel Fattalย - 220). She needs 25 goals during the rest of the season to become the all-time leader in UCLA history (1. Kelly Rulon, 237). She also ranks 4th in career steals with 136, needing 32 to pass Katie Rulonย for third place (167). The all-time leader at UCLA is Rachel Fattal with 188.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Four of UCLA's seven 2021 ACWPC All-Americans return for the 2022 season. Senior centerย Ava Johnsonย headlined the list of Bruin selections as the lone First-Team honoree. Junior attackerย Hannah Palmerย was the only Bruin to earn Second-Team honors. The Bruins landed two on the Third-Team list which included senior attackerย Val Ayalaย and goalkeeperย Jahmea Bentย (graduated). Three more Bruins earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades that included defenderย Brooke Maxsonย (graduated), junior utilityย Abbi Hillย and attackerย Lexi Liebowitzย (graduated). Maddie Musselman is also a three-time All-American (2017-19).
Johnson was fifth on the team in scoring with 34 points (28 goals, six assists). Her 28 goals ranked tied for second on the team. She led the squad in drawn exclusions (32) and field blocks (nine) and tied for fourth on the team in steals (nine).ย Palmerย ledย the team in scoring with 62 points (9th in the MPSF)ย with a team-highย 36 goals and 26 assists (tied for fifth in the MPSF).ย She was second on the team defensively with 14 steals.ย Ayala was fourth on the team in scoring with 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists). Her 20 goals ranked fifth on the squad while the 16 assists ranked third. She led the Bruins defensively with a team-high 17 steals while ranking second with eight field blocks.ย Hill finished second on the team in scoring with 47 points (28 goals, 19 assists). The 28 goals andย 19 assists each ranked second on the team. She also had nine steals (tied for fourth on the squad), six drawn exclusions, and three field blocks.
RETURNING ALL-MPSF SELECTIONS
Four of the Bruins' five players that earned All-MPSF plaudits in 2021 return for the 2022 campaign. The group includes First-Team selections senior centerย Ava Johnsonย and junior attackerย Hannah Palmer.ย Johnson was also named to the 2021 MPSF/KAP7 All-Tournament Team. Seniorย Brooke Maxsonย wasย named honorable mention for the second straight year and graduated out of the program at year's end. Two Bruin sophomores landed on the MPSF All-Newcomer Team last year, which included attackersย Malia Allenย andย Anneliese Miller.
ย
TENDING GOAL
The Bruins have three goalkeepers on the 2022 roster that all saw action last season, led by redshirt junior Georgia Phillips who played in 10 games (starting eight) while going 5-3 on the year. Junior Quinn Winter and sophomore Sydney Chiang each only played a quarter in the Bruins' season-opening win at No. 11 Fresno State (Feb. 14) a year ago.
ย
CALIFORNIA RAISED
For the third-consecutive season, the UCLA women's water polo roster is completely made up of student-athletes that are from the state of California (28).
WRIGHT ON DECK
Adam Wright is in his fifth season as UCLA's head women's water polo coach in 2022 with an overall record of 92-22 (.807) and an MPSF mark of 19-8 (.704).ย On July 20, 2017, then-UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, announced that Wrightย would guide both the UCLA men's and women's water polo teams.
ย
RECAPPING 2021
Overall Record: 15-5 |ย Final Ranking: 2nd | NCAA Finish: 2nd |ย MPSFย Tournament Finish: 3rd
UCLA finished the season at 15-5 overall and 9-3 in the MPSF in the COVID-limited season of 2021 in head coach Adam Wright's fourth season at the helm of the program. The Bruins went defeated every team it played at least once, including handing NCAA Champion USC its only loss of the season at home, 13-6, on the UCLA's "Senior Day" (April 25). The Bruins also split a pair of games at No. 2 Stanford, dropping the first one 11-12 (Mar. 27) before rallying to win the second meeting, 11-10 (Mar. 28). Stanford beat UCLA in the semifinals of the MPSF Championiship, 13-8 (May 1), but the Bruins beat the Cardinal in the semifinals of the NCAA Champioinship, 9-7 (May 15) before falling to the Trojans in the title match. UCLA would capture third place at the MPSF Championship with a 12-7 win at No. 5 Arizona State (May 2).
UCLA IN THEย CWPA POLL
The Bruins remained at No. 3 in the 2022 CWPAย National Women's Varsity Top 25 Poll (92 points), released on Feb. 9.
ย
ย
LOS ANGELES โ No. 3 UCLA (11-0, 2-0 MPSF) heads to UC San Diego for the 2022 Triton Invitational this weekend. The Bruins will open with Santa Clara (1-1) at 8:30 a.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Canyonview Pool. The outcome will decide the next game. UCLA will face either the winner (at 3:10 p.m.) or loser (at 1:50 p.m.) of the No. 12 UC San Diego/No. 19 San Diego State game. UCSDย will only be able to provide live stats and a live stream for the matches the Tritons are involved in.
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Saturday, Feb. 12 (Triton Invitational โ Canyonview Pool)
8:30 AM PT โ Santa Claraย vs. No. 3 UCLA |ย LIVE STATS
1:50 or 3:10 PM PT โ No. 12 UC San Diego or No. 19 San Diego Stateย vs. No. 3 UCLA
Sunday, Feb. 13 (Triton Invitational โย Triton Pool)
TBD โ TBD vs.ย No. 3 UCLA
TBD โ TBDย vs. No. 3 UCLA
SERIES HISTORY
This is the seventh meeting between UCLA and Santa Clara with the Bruins winning all six previous contests. The Bruins won the last meeting with the Broncos, 17-2, in the opening round of the Triton Invitational on Feb. 9, 2019. The Bruins are also 32-3 all-time against UC San Diego and 41-4 against San Diego State. The Bruins beat UCSD earlier this year, 11-6, at the UCSB Winter Invitational (Jan. 23). UCLA last defeated the Aztecs, 22-5, at the Hawai'i Invitational (Mar. 30, 2017).
MUSSELMAN MAKING HER MOVE
After a two-year hiatus to train for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with Team USA, senior attacker Maddie Musselman returns to complete her senior season at UCLA. Musselman tied for the team scoring lead with 18 goals in the Olympics, leading Team USA to its third-straight gold medal and was named the MVP of the Olympic Games. It is the fourth time in her career that she has been named the MVP of a major international tournament as she was named the MVP of the FINA World League Super Final in 2019 and again in 2021. She was also named the MVP of the FINA World Championships in 2017. Additionally, the three-time First-Team All-American was also named the 2021 Women's Total Player of the Year byย (Total Waterpolo). Musselmanย has 213 career goals which ranks fourth all-time on the UCLA career charts. Sheย needs eight more to move into third placeย (3. Rachel Fattalย - 220). She needs 25 goals during the rest of the season to become the all-time leader in UCLA history (1. Kelly Rulon, 237). She also ranks 4th in career steals with 136, needing 32 to pass Katie Rulonย for third place (167). The all-time leader at UCLA is Rachel Fattal with 188.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Four of UCLA's seven 2021 ACWPC All-Americans return for the 2022 season. Senior centerย Ava Johnsonย headlined the list of Bruin selections as the lone First-Team honoree. Junior attackerย Hannah Palmerย was the only Bruin to earn Second-Team honors. The Bruins landed two on the Third-Team list which included senior attackerย Val Ayalaย and goalkeeperย Jahmea Bentย (graduated). Three more Bruins earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades that included defenderย Brooke Maxsonย (graduated), junior utilityย Abbi Hillย and attackerย Lexi Liebowitzย (graduated). Maddie Musselman is also a three-time All-American (2017-19).
Johnson was fifth on the team in scoring with 34 points (28 goals, six assists). Her 28 goals ranked tied for second on the team. She led the squad in drawn exclusions (32) and field blocks (nine) and tied for fourth on the team in steals (nine).ย Palmerย ledย the team in scoring with 62 points (9th in the MPSF)ย with a team-highย 36 goals and 26 assists (tied for fifth in the MPSF).ย She was second on the team defensively with 14 steals.ย Ayala was fourth on the team in scoring with 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists). Her 20 goals ranked fifth on the squad while the 16 assists ranked third. She led the Bruins defensively with a team-high 17 steals while ranking second with eight field blocks.ย Hill finished second on the team in scoring with 47 points (28 goals, 19 assists). The 28 goals andย 19 assists each ranked second on the team. She also had nine steals (tied for fourth on the squad), six drawn exclusions, and three field blocks.
RETURNING ALL-MPSF SELECTIONS
Four of the Bruins' five players that earned All-MPSF plaudits in 2021 return for the 2022 campaign. The group includes First-Team selections senior centerย Ava Johnsonย and junior attackerย Hannah Palmer.ย Johnson was also named to the 2021 MPSF/KAP7 All-Tournament Team. Seniorย Brooke Maxsonย wasย named honorable mention for the second straight year and graduated out of the program at year's end. Two Bruin sophomores landed on the MPSF All-Newcomer Team last year, which included attackersย Malia Allenย andย Anneliese Miller.
ย
TENDING GOAL
The Bruins have three goalkeepers on the 2022 roster that all saw action last season, led by redshirt junior Georgia Phillips who played in 10 games (starting eight) while going 5-3 on the year. Junior Quinn Winter and sophomore Sydney Chiang each only played a quarter in the Bruins' season-opening win at No. 11 Fresno State (Feb. 14) a year ago.
ย
CALIFORNIA RAISED
For the third-consecutive season, the UCLA women's water polo roster is completely made up of student-athletes that are from the state of California (28).
WRIGHT ON DECK
Adam Wright is in his fifth season as UCLA's head women's water polo coach in 2022 with an overall record of 92-22 (.807) and an MPSF mark of 19-8 (.704).ย On July 20, 2017, then-UCLA Director of Athletics, Dan Guerrero, announced that Wrightย would guide both the UCLA men's and women's water polo teams.
ย
RECAPPING 2021
Overall Record: 15-5 |ย Final Ranking: 2nd | NCAA Finish: 2nd |ย MPSFย Tournament Finish: 3rd
UCLA finished the season at 15-5 overall and 9-3 in the MPSF in the COVID-limited season of 2021 in head coach Adam Wright's fourth season at the helm of the program. The Bruins went defeated every team it played at least once, including handing NCAA Champion USC its only loss of the season at home, 13-6, on the UCLA's "Senior Day" (April 25). The Bruins also split a pair of games at No. 2 Stanford, dropping the first one 11-12 (Mar. 27) before rallying to win the second meeting, 11-10 (Mar. 28). Stanford beat UCLA in the semifinals of the MPSF Championiship, 13-8 (May 1), but the Bruins beat the Cardinal in the semifinals of the NCAA Champioinship, 9-7 (May 15) before falling to the Trojans in the title match. UCLA would capture third place at the MPSF Championship with a 12-7 win at No. 5 Arizona State (May 2).
UCLA IN THEย CWPA POLL
The Bruins remained at No. 3 in the 2022 CWPAย National Women's Varsity Top 25 Poll (92 points), released on Feb. 9.
ย
ย 2022 WOMEN'S VARSITY TOP 25 (Week 3 - Feb. 9) |
|||
| ย Rank | ย Team | ย Week 2ย Poll | ย Points |
| ย 1 | ย USC | ย 1 | ย 100 |
| ย 2 | ย California | ย 4 | ย 94 |
| ย 3 | ย UCLA | ย 3 | ย 92 |
| ย 4 | ย Stanford | ย 2 | ย 90 |
| ย 5 | ย Michigan | ย 5 | ย 83 |
| ย 6 | ย Hawai'i | ย 6 | ย 81 |
| ย 7 | ย UC Irvine | ย 7 | ย 76 |
| ย 8 | ย Fresno State | ย 8 | ย 72 |
| ย 9 | ย Arizona State | ย 9 | ย 68 |
| ย 10 | ย UC Davis | ย 10 | ย 62 |
| ย 11 | ย San José State | ย 11 | ย 57 |
| ย 12 | ย UC San Diego | ย 12 | ย 56 |
| ย 13 | ย Long Beach State | ย 13 | ย 48 |
| ย 14 | ย Wagner | ย 14 | ย 49 |
| ย 15 (T) | ย Pacific | ย 15 (T) | ย 40 |
| ย 16 | ย UC Santa Barbara | ย 15 (T) | ย 38 |
| ย 17 | ย LIU | ย 17 | ย 36 |
| ย 18 | ย Indiana | ย 18 (T) | ย 34 |
| ย 19 | ย San Diego State | ย 18 (T) | ย 31 |
| ย 20 | ย Loyola Marymount | ย 18 (T) | ย 29 |
| ย 21 | ย Princeton | ย 21 | ย 22 |
| ย 22 | ย Harvard | ย 22 | ย 18 |
| ย 23 | ย Marist | ย 23 | ย 10 |
| ย 24 | ย Bucknell | ย 24 (T) | ย 6 |
| ย 25 | ย Brown | ย RV | ย 4 |
| ย RV | ย California Baptist University | ย 24 (T) | ย 2 |
| ย RV | ย Azusa Pacific | ย RV | ย 2 |
| ย RV | ย CSUN | ย RV | ย 1 |
| ย RV | ย Cal State East Bay | ย RV | ย 1 |
| ย RV | ย Iona College | ย RV | ย 1 |
ย
Players Mentioned
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
/ Women's Water Polo
CTR
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
DEF
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
ATK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
/ Women's Water Polo
GK
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