April 29, 2002

LOS ANGELES-Stanford, UCLA, Loyola Marymount and Michigan will participate in the four-team 2002 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship hosted by USC at the McDonald's Swim Stadium on May 11-12, the NCAA announced today.

No. 1-seeded Stanford (21-2) will face No. 4 Michigan (25-11) at 3:30 p.m. on May 11, followed by the No. 2 UCLA (21-3) versus No. 3 Loyola Marymount (20-7) contest at 5 p.m. On May 12, the consolation game starts at 3:30 p.m., with the championship match at 5 p.m. All four games will be broadcast live on www.ncaachampionships.com.

Tickets, available at the gate or by calling (213) 740-GO SC, are $25 for a poolside reserved two-day pass and $20 for a general admission two-day pass (students and seniors two-day passes cost $12 for reserved and $10 for general admission). Single day passes will be sold at the gate only on the day of the game for $15 reserved ($8 students/seniors) and $12 general admission ($6 students/seniors).

UCLA beat Stanford, 11-7, on Sunday (April 28) to win the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament at USC and get the MPSF's automatic berth into the NCAA tourney, while Stanford received the at-large bid. Loyola Marymount defeated UC San Diego, 8-5, on Sunday (April 28) to win the Western Water Polo Association tourney and be the WWPA's automatic qualifier. Michigan beat Hartwick, 7-6 in the first sudden death overtime period, on Sunday (April 28) to capture the Eastern Championship and earn the automatic qualification from the Collegiate Water Polo Association.

Team practices, open to the public, will be held on May 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last year, in the inaugural NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship, UCLA beat host Stanford, 5-4, for the crown.