Bruins prepare to hit the water

Lauren Hartwick
Published: Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Through the gray January fog and bleak lights at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center atop the hill, the morning is filled with the faint hum of Vespas and the laughter of 16 talented athletes.

Joking with coach Adam Krikorian as they stretch on the pool deck waiting for swimmers to give up the pool, the women of the UCLA water polo team could convince anybody that 7:30 a.m. is a viable hour of the day.

Coming off its NCAA Championship win against USC last year, (No. 99 for UCLA), the women’s water polo team is back to the usual early-morning grind.

The defending national champions begin their season at the Stanford Invitational this weekend, and will hit the water with some notable differences. For example, the team has shrunk from 20 members to 16, and just 14 field players.

“We’re probably not as deep as we’ve been before, and we certainly don’t have the large numbers that we’ve had before, but the talent is still there.” Krikorian said.

The Bruins are as confident as their coach about their lineup.

“We’re really close,” Courtney Mathewson said. “Having a smaller team makes it easier to listen in practice, we get a lot more playing time, and we’re all on the same page.”

Mathewson’s play in the title game last spring remains fresh in the memories of all Bruin fans, as she scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds to upset USC.

Nothing at their twice-a-day practices would suggest the Bruins are not poised for another run. Like a well-oiled machine, the girls take out lane ropes, put in goals, and are in the water within minutes. For over four hours each day, they are practicing everything from head-up dribbling sprints to full scrimmages among themselves.

Unity seems to be a strong theme for this small group of close athletes, and no doubt it will be an instrumental factor in the development and playing style of this year’s team.

“I’m most excited to see how this team comes together,” senior driver Kelly Rulon said. “Everyone gets along, so I’m excited to see the chemistry that’s outside of the pool come together in the pool.”

Rulon, a 2004 Olympian, and her fellow seniors form the core of this team. Last year, Rulon was named NCAA Tournament MVP. As a Bruin, she has scored 70 goals in a single season two times.

Emily Feher, also a senior, is returning for the Bruins as goalkeeper, where she provided a dominating presence in front of the cage last season.

After winning NCAA titles three of the past four years, the Bruins hope their relationships with each other will give them the extra edge over the competition.

“The usual suspects will be tough, such as USC, Stanford and Cal,” Krikorian said. “But it’s really all about who executes at the end of the season.”

With the season beginning soon, anyone who believes this year’s team has the potential to be one of the greats in the program’s history is likely to agree that it is a major contender for UCLA’s 100th national title.

“I’m really excited to work with this group. I’ve had some great teams and some great kids go through the program, but this group is really special to me,” Krikorian said. “They bring a great approach to the pool deck that is just a pleasure to be around. They work hard and are so coachable. They want to get better; it makes my job easy and fun to come to practice.”

Without a doubt, this will be a team for all Bruin fans to keep a close eye on.