[M T]

For those that have never watched women's water polo, here's another chance to see past & future Olympians play against each other: Stanford's US Olympic gold medalists versus those imported by other schools. 

As mentioned in other posts, Stanford women's water polo is seeded #1 going into the MPSF championship tournament this weekend.  They seem to have a good chance of getting another National Championship.  The team's seniors won the NC as freshmen & sophomores, but lost the NC in a 5-OT game against US.C last year.  Do you think they'll be motivated?  #1 Stanford (20-1), #2 US.C (22-2), & #3 UCLA (23-3)  seem clearly the best 3 teams, but with little difference amongst them.  But some of the others, such as #4 Kal (17-7), have the capacity to surprise any of them.

Stanford's only loss this year is to UCLA, but they also beat UCLA twice.  I think their biggest challenge is US.C.  The only game this year between last year's national championship game teams was at Stanford, where Stanford won with outstanding defense 9-5 against US.C, who had struggled the day before against #5 SJSU.  Each of the MPSF & National tournaments are at the US.C pool.  Ouch...  (For us spectators at a distance, the TV coverage at the US.C facility seemed better than at Stanford, and included some underwater shots.) 

Stanford plays in the semifinals of the MPSF championships at 2:30PM on Saturday.  Possibly we will be going for #38 in a row against Kal at that time.  Assuming we win Saturday, the finals will be at 2:30PM on Sunday, probably against US.C or UCLA.

All games will be streamed at
  http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/w-wpolo...M_ID=30600
(While the PAC-12 channel showed several games, including the Big Splash, recently, these won't be on TV.)

The NCAA tournament will be two weeks later, again at US.C.  Even if Stanford were to lose this weekend, they will certainly be invited to the national championship tournament.

[M T]

For those that have never watched women's water polo, here's another chance to see past & future Olympians play against each other: Stanford's US Olympic gold medalists versus those imported by other schools. 

As mentioned in other posts, Stanford women's water polo is seeded #1 going into the MPSF championship tournament this weekend.  They seem to have a good chance of getting another National Championship.  The team's seniors won the NC as freshmen & sophomores, but lost the NC in a 5-OT game against US.C last year.  Do you think they'll be motivated?  #1 Stanford (20-1), #2 US.C (22-2), & #3 UCLA (23-3)  seem clearly the best 3 teams, but with little difference amongst them.  But some of the others, such as #4 Kal (17-7), have the capacity to surprise any of them.

Stanford's only loss this year is to UCLA, but they also beat UCLA twice.  I think their biggest challenge is US.C.  The only game this year between last year's national championship game teams was at Stanford, where Stanford won with outstanding defense 9-5 against US.C, who had struggled the day before against #5 SJSU.  Each of the MPSF & National tournaments are at the US.C pool.  Ouch...  (For us spectators at a distance, the TV coverage at the US.C facility seemed better than at Stanford, and included some underwater shots.) 

Stanford plays in the semifinals of the MPSF championships at 2:30PM on Saturday.  Possibly we will be going for #38 in a row against Kal at that time.  Assuming we win Saturday, the finals will be at 2:30PM on Sunday, probably against US.C or UCLA.

All games will be streamed at
  http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/w-wpolo...M_ID=30600
(While the PAC-12 channel showed several games, including the Big Splash, recently, these won't be on TV.)

The NCAA tournament will be two weeks later, again at US.C.  Even if Stanford were to lose this weekend, they will certainly be invited to the national championship tournament.

[81alum]

Thanks MT for pointing this out.

One of my current students is the SJSU goalie and will be playing in this big tournament.  She is a frosh who unexpectedly got subbed into a game a few weeks ago and performed so well that she has become the starter, winning player of the week in the conference.  She said their top priority was beating C.al, and after they did that, they were determined to beat hated U.SC.  I nearly wept tears of joy.  A great kid and a dream student.

Earlier this year we (Stanford) beat them (SJSU) fairly handily, but they nearly pulled off an upset over #1 U.SC 9-10.  She says they stayed after their game and cheered as Stanford took on U.SC, and she and the SJSU team took a little credit for swimming SC absolutely ragged just before they had to take on Stanford.  Something I did not realize is that water polo teams often play two games in the same day.  They must burn 11,000 calories!

Well, I have had zero interest in water polo before, but I think I shall take an interest in this tournament.  My alma mater and my student are involved.  I just hope the two do not wind up colliding!

[81alum]

Thanks MT for pointing this out.

One of my current students is the SJSU goalie and will be playing in this big tournament.  She is a frosh who unexpectedly got subbed into a game a few weeks ago and performed so well that she has become the starter, winning player of the week in the conference.  She said their top priority was beating C.al, and after they did that, they were determined to beat hated U.SC.  I nearly wept tears of joy.  A great kid and a dream student.

Earlier this year we (Stanford) beat them (SJSU) fairly handily, but they nearly pulled off an upset over #1 U.SC 9-10.  She says they stayed after their game and cheered as Stanford took on U.SC, and she and the SJSU team took a little credit for swimming SC absolutely ragged just before they had to take on Stanford.  Something I did not realize is that water polo teams often play two games in the same day.  They must burn 11,000 calories!

Well, I have had zero interest in water polo before, but I think I shall take an interest in this tournament.  My alma mater and my student are involved.  I just hope the two do not wind up colliding!

[fullmetal]

Peninsular solidarity! :)

[fullmetal]

Peninsular solidarity! :)

[Viking_Guy]

First round:
Sorry 81A, da Bares beats SJSU 8-7 in overtime.
In the big upset of the day, Arizona State beat SC 10-9 in sudden death.
UCLA hammered Bakersfield 12-3.

So it's Stanford against K.al again, and ASU vs. UCLA.

One note: the "live event" broadcast quality is good, but there is no on-screen info - no time or score information.  And there doesn't appear to be a live gametracker anywhere.  At least yet.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

First round:
Sorry 81A, da Bares beats SJSU 8-7 in overtime.
In the big upset of the day, Arizona State beat SC 10-9 in sudden death.
UCLA hammered Bakersfield 12-3.

So it's Stanford against K.al again, and ASU vs. UCLA.

One note: the "live event" broadcast quality is good, but there is no on-screen info - no time or score information.  And there doesn't appear to be a live gametracker anywhere.  At least yet.

VG

[81alum]

First round:
Sorry 81A, da Bares beats SJSU 8-7 in overtime.
VG

Sad, sad.  But did you see that Katelynn had 10 saves to the C.al goalie's 4?  That means Katelynn played well, right?

[81alum]

First round:
Sorry 81A, da Bares beats SJSU 8-7 in overtime.
VG

Sad, sad.  But did you see that Katelynn had 10 saves to the C.al goalie's 4?  That means Katelynn played well, right?

[rudruff]

A good friend of mine has a nanny who plays for Kal. I would talk trash but frankly I am scared to.

[rudruff]

A good friend of mine has a nanny who plays for Kal. I would talk trash but frankly I am scared to.