NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship
Encyclopedia
The NCAA
Women's Water Polo
Championship has existed since the 2001 season. Three conferences have teams competing in women's water polo, the Collegiate Water Polo Association
, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
. Some teams compete at Division III either as members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
or independently.
2011
The tournament will be held at the University of Michigan
's Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan
with automatic bids from the MPSF (Stanford), CWPA (Indiana), Big West
(UCI), MAAC (Iona), WWPA
(UCSD) and SCIAC (Redlands). The three-day championships on May 13-15, 2011, will also have 3 at-large teams.
Tournament First Round:
Semi-finals:
Championship:
All Tournament First Team:
All Tournament Second Team:
Tournament MVP: Annika Dries, Stanford
2010
The tournament field was announced on Monday, May 3, 2010 with the Championship tournament scheduled for May 14-16 at San Diego State University
's Aztec Aquaplex. Teams received automatic bids were: UCLA (MPSF), Michigan (CWPA), Marist (MAAC), Loyola Marymount (WWPA) and Pomona-Pitzer (SCIAC). Stanford, Cal and USC of MPSF received at-large bids.
Tournament Bracket:
Southern California (25-3) defeated Stanford in the title game 10-9 for its second national title in school history.
2009
The following conferences and institutions received automatic qualification for the 2009 Championships, which were played on May 8-10: Collegiate Water Polo Association, Michigan
; Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Marist
; Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, USC
; Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Cal Lutheran; and Western Water Polo Association, Loyola Marymount. The following institutions received at-large bids to the championship field: Stanford, UCLA, and Hawai'i.
The first round games: #1 seed USC (24-1) vs. #8 Cal Lutheran (19-12); #2 Stanford (24-3) vs. #7 Marist (18-13); #3 UCLA (22-6) vs. #6 Michigan (33-8); and #4 Hawai'i (18-8) vs. # 5 Loyola Marymount (24-7).
The UCLA Bruins
women's team (3rd seeded) battled the #1 rated USC Trojans
for the national championship on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at College Park, Maryland
. With two goals from Tanya Gandy
in the first minute of the game, UCLA won a record fifth consecutive crown, 11th national title and 7th NCAA crown. Gandy earned the NCAA Tournament's most valuable player honor.
has ever surpassed fourth place. Hence, no non-California school has ever participated in the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship game, nor has a non-California school ever won the consolation game. In fact, with the exception of Stanford University
and Cal
(both in the northern part
of the state), all of the schools who have achieved first, second, or third place have been located in Los Angeles, California
. Prior to NCAA tournament competition, USA Water Polo conducted an intercollegiate team championship from 1984-2000. In 1995, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
became the only non-California school to win the intercollegiate women's water polo championship.
The women's water polo team from UCLA has won 7 of the 11 championships, and won the 100th and 101st NCAA Championship for the school in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Women's Water Polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
Championship has existed since the 2001 season. Three conferences have teams competing in women's water polo, the Collegiate Water Polo Association
Collegiate Water Polo Association
The Collegiate Water Polo Association is a conference of colleges and universities in the Eastern United States that compete in varsity water polo...
, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is a college athletic conference whose member teams are located in the western United States. The conference participates at the NCAA Division I level.-History:...
and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
. Some teams compete at Division III either as members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the NCAA's Division III. The conference was founded in 1915 and it consists of twelve small private schools which are located in Southern California and organized into nine athletic programs...
or independently.
2011
The tournament will be held at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
with automatic bids from the MPSF (Stanford), CWPA (Indiana), Big West
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
(UCI), MAAC (Iona), WWPA
WWPA
WWPA is an all-news radio station broadcasting at 1340 AM and licensed to serve the community of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA....
(UCSD) and SCIAC (Redlands). The three-day championships on May 13-15, 2011, will also have 3 at-large teams.
Tournament First Round:
- No. 1 StanfordStanford CardinalThe Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
(25-1) vs. No. 8 Iona CollegeIona GaelsThe Iona Gaels are part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and participate in twenty-two NCAA Division I programs. Other members of the MAAC include Canisius College, Fairfield University, Loyola University Maryland, Manhattan College, Marist College, Niagara University, Rider University, St...
/University of Redlands (play-in winner) - No. 5 UCIUC Irvine AnteatersUC Irvine's Athletics program participates in the NCAA's Division I, as members of the Big West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation...
(21-8) vs. No. 4 USCUSC TrojansThe USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
(18-6) - No. 3 UCLAUCLA BruinsThe UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
(24-6) vs. No. 6 IndianaIndiana HoosiersThe Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
(21-8) - No. 7 UCSD (17-18) vs. No. 2 CaliforniaCalifornia Golden BearsThe California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
(24-4)
Semi-finals:
- No. 2 California def. No. 3 UCLA 7–4
- No. 1 Stanford def. No. 4 Southern California 8–4
Championship:
- No. 1 Stanford defeated No. 2 California 9-5 for its second national title.
All Tournament First Team:
- Amber Oland, Stanford
- Annika Dries, Stanford
- Emily Csikos, Cal
- Kim Krueger, Stanford
- Patricia Jancso, USC
- Melissa Seidemann, Stanford
- Dana Ochsner, Cal
- Priscilla Orozco, UCLA
All Tournament Second Team:
- Stephane Peckham, Cal
- Jakie Kohli, Indiana
- Joelle Bekhazi, USC
- KK Clark, UCLA
- Cortney Collyer, UC Irvine
- Jessy Cardey, UC Irvine
- Maggie Wood, Iona
- Kelly Easterday, UCLA
Tournament MVP: Annika Dries, Stanford
2010
The tournament field was announced on Monday, May 3, 2010 with the Championship tournament scheduled for May 14-16 at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
's Aztec Aquaplex. Teams received automatic bids were: UCLA (MPSF), Michigan (CWPA), Marist (MAAC), Loyola Marymount (WWPA) and Pomona-Pitzer (SCIAC). Stanford, Cal and USC of MPSF received at-large bids.
Tournament Bracket:
- #1 Stanford (24-2) vs. #8 Pomona-Pitzer (18-14)
- #2 USC (22-3) vs. #7 Marist (18-14)
- #3 UCLA (20-7) vs. #6 Loyola Marymount (27-4)
- #4 Cal (24-8) vs. #5 Michigan (32-6)
Southern California (25-3) defeated Stanford in the title game 10-9 for its second national title in school history.
2009
The following conferences and institutions received automatic qualification for the 2009 Championships, which were played on May 8-10: Collegiate Water Polo Association, Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
; Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Marist
Marist College
Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
; Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
; Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Cal Lutheran; and Western Water Polo Association, Loyola Marymount. The following institutions received at-large bids to the championship field: Stanford, UCLA, and Hawai'i.
The first round games: #1 seed USC (24-1) vs. #8 Cal Lutheran (19-12); #2 Stanford (24-3) vs. #7 Marist (18-13); #3 UCLA (22-6) vs. #6 Michigan (33-8); and #4 Hawai'i (18-8) vs. # 5 Loyola Marymount (24-7).
The UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
women's team (3rd seeded) battled the #1 rated USC Trojans
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
for the national championship on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
. With two goals from Tanya Gandy
Tanya Gandy
Tanya Gandy, who was born August 20, 1987 in San Diego, California, plays water polo for UCLA on four of the five-consecutive NCAA National Champion Women's Water Polo teams and was named to the All-Tournament first team...
in the first minute of the game, UCLA won a record fifth consecutive crown, 11th national title and 7th NCAA crown. Gandy earned the NCAA Tournament's most valuable player honor.
Division I
| Year | National Champion | Score | Runner-Up | Host or site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | UCLA UCLA Bruins The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I... |
5-4 | Stanford Stanford Cardinal The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams... |
Stanford University, Avery Aquatic Center, Stanford, California Stanford, California Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census.... |
| 2002 | Stanford | 8-4 | UCLA | Southern California, McDonald's Swim Stadium, Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
| 2003 | UCLA | 4-3 | Stanford | UC San Diego, Canyonview Pool, San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
| 2004 | USC USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy... |
10-8 | Loyola Marymount Loyola Marymount Lions The Loyola Marymount Lions are the athletic teams that represent Loyola Marymount University, a Jesuit institution in Los Angeles, California. The school competes in NCAA Division I, with its primary affiliation in the West Coast Conference, an organization consisting solely of... |
Stanford University, Avery Aquatic Center, Stanford, California Stanford, California Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census.... |
| 2005 | UCLA | 3-2 | Stanford | University of Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... , Canham Natatorium , Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010... |
| 2006 | UCLA | 9-8 | USC USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy... |
UC Davis, Schaal Aquatics Center , Davis, California Davis, California Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
| 2007 | UCLA | 5-4 | Stanford | Long Beach St., Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California Los Alamitos, California Los Alamitos is a small city in Orange County, California. The city was incorporated in March 1960. The population was 11,449 at the 2010 census, down from 11,536 at the 2000 census... |
| 2008 | UCLA | 6-3 | USC USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy... |
Stanford University, Avery Aquatic Center, Stanford, California Stanford, California Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census.... |
| 2009 | UCLA | 5-4 | USC USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy... |
University of Maryland Maryland Terrapins The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition... , Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium, College Park, Maryland College Park, Maryland College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S... |
| 2010 | USC USC Trojans The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy... |
10-9 | Stanford | San Diego State San Diego State University San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system... , Aztec Aquaplex, San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
| 2011 | Stanford | 9-5 | California | University of Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... , Canham Natatorium , Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010... |
| 2012 | San Diego State, Aztec Aquaplex, San Diego, California | |||
| 2013 | Southern California, McDonald's Swim Stadium, Los Angeles, California | |||
Tournament notes
No school from outside the state of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
has ever surpassed fourth place. Hence, no non-California school has ever participated in the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship game, nor has a non-California school ever won the consolation game. In fact, with the exception of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and Cal
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
(both in the northern part
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
of the state), all of the schools who have achieved first, second, or third place have been located in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Prior to NCAA tournament competition, USA Water Polo conducted an intercollegiate team championship from 1984-2000. In 1995, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public, master's-level university that offers some doctoral programs in cooperation with Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Both institutions are members of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
became the only non-California school to win the intercollegiate women's water polo championship.
The women's water polo team from UCLA has won 7 of the 11 championships, and won the 100th and 101st NCAA Championship for the school in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
See also
- Pre-NCAA Intercollegiate Women's Water Polo Champions