University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Enjoys Another Banner Year
June 29, 2005
The UCLA athletic program enjoyed another stellar year in 2004-2005.
UCLA will enter the 2005-2006 school year with 97 NCAA team championships to its credit -- the most of any school in the country.
The Bruins won three NCAA team championships, tied for first nationally with the University of Georgia for most titles in 2004-05.
In addition, UCLA finished third in competition for the Directors' Cup, which is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors, USA Today and the U.S. Sports Academy (UCLA trailed second-place Texas by just seven points).
During the 2004-2005 school year, UCLA won NCAA team titles in men's water polo, women's water polo and men's tennis. The Bruins also finished second in five other sports -- women's soccer, men's volleyball, women's golf, softball and women's outdoor track and field (tied).
UCLA finished fourth in the nation in women's gymnastics, reached the NCAA quarterfinals in women's volleyball, tying for fifth place nationally, and also tied for ninth in the NCAA in both women's tennis and men's soccer. The Bruins placed 18th in women's swimming and 20th in women's indoor track and field. In addition, the football team played in a bowl game for the third straight year and the women's rowing Varsity Eight made its first NCAA appearance since the program was restored in 2001-02.
Overall, 12 Bruin teams finished in the Top Nine nationally in their respective sports. UCLA also won eight conference titles (Pac-10 or MPSF).
In a five-week stretch between May 7 and June 11, UCLA won two of its NCAA team championships (women's water polo and men's tennis) and finished second in four other sports (men's volleyball, women's golf, softball and women's outdoor track and field).
In addition, Kristen Maloney (gymnastics) and Monique Henderson (track and field) earned Honda Awards as the top female athlete in their respective sports.