UCLA heads field

The No. 8-ranked UC Irvine men’s water polo team hosts a daunting

group of teams, including defending NCAA champion and No. 1-ranked

UCLA, in the Southern California Collegiate Men’s Water Polo

tournament at the Anteater Aquatics Complex and Corona del Mar High

this Saturday and Sunday.

The 16-team field features 14 schools that are ranked in the

nation’s top 16 spots, including the top nine teams, in the

collegiate poll released Wednesday.

UC Irvine is led by All-American Dreason Barry. First-year coach

Marc Hunt is at the helm for the Anteaters, who are 3-2 in

early-season action. Hunt, a former UCI All-American, has been an

assistant coach with the Anteaters the last four years. He takes over

for Ted Newland, who compiled 714 wins in 39 years. Newland has been

named coach emeritus and will continue coaching with the program.

The other teams competing in the tournament include No. 2

California, No. 3 USC, No. 4 Stanford, No. 5 Pepperdine, No. 6 Long

Beach State, No. 7 UC San Diego, No. 9 Loyola Marymount, No. 11 Navy,

No. 12 Pacific, No. 13 UC Davis, No. 15 University of Redlands, No.

16 UC Santa Barbara, Cal Baptist University and Bucknell University.

“This tournament is going to be a tough road to hoe,” Hunt said.

“The NCAA has a large number of strong teams this year.”

Several local players will compete in the tournament, including

UCLA senior defender Michael March (Corona del Mar High), USC’s Jovan

Vranes (Newport Harbor High), Stanford’s Michael Bury (Newport Harbor

High), Marcello Pantuliano (Corona del Mar High) and Beau Stockstill

(goalkeeper, Corona del Mar High), UC San Diego’s Nathan Weiner and

Steven Jendrusina of Newport Harbor High, and Pacific’s Nadeem Hakim

(Corona del Mar High) and Evan Spencer (Costa Mesa High).

Sixteen games will be played each day with eight apiece at the two

venues.

Saturday’s schedule at UC Irvine starts with an 8 a.m. game

pitting UCLA against Bucknell. UC Irvine follows with a 9:10 a.m.

game against Loyola Marymount. Then Stanford plays Santa Barbara at

10:20 a.m. and Pepperdine plays Navy at 11:30 a.m.

The losers of the first two games play at 12:40 p.m. The winners

of the first two games compete at 1:50 p.m.

Saturday’s games at Corona del Mar High start at 8 a.m. when

California takes on Cal Baptist. UC San Diego follows with a 9:10

a.m. game against UC Davis. USC takes on Redlands at 10:20 a.m. and

Long Beach State faces Pacific at 11:30 a.m.

The top eight teams following Saturday’s games will play at UCI on

Sunday, with the consolation half at Corona del Mar High. The

championship game is scheduled for the Anteater Aquatics Complex at

4:45 p.m. Sunday.

Ticket prices are $30 for a two-day pass or $20 per day. Passes

will be valid at both venues. For ticket information, call (949)

824-6202.

USC won the title of last year’s Southern California Tournament

with an 8-6 victory over Stanford in the final. USC defeated UC

Irvine last Saturday in a nonconference game, 8-5.

“We don’t have a lot of depth like these other schools, so our

practice comes from early-season games,” said Hunt. “I think we’ll

develop into a good team.”

Today at UC Irvine

Gm. 1 - 8 a.m. - UCLA vs. Bucknell

Gm. 2 - 9:10 a.m. - UC Irvine vs. Loyola Marymount

Gm. 3 - 10:20 a.m. - Stanford vs. UCSB

Gm. 4 - 11:30 a.m. - Pepperdine vs. Navy

Gm. 5 - 12:40 p.m. - Losers Games 1 & 2

Gm. 6 - 1:50 p.m. - Winners Games 1 & 2

Gm. 7 - 3 p.m. - Losers Games 3 & 4

Gm. 8 - 4:10 p.m. - Winners Games 3 & 4

Today at Corona del Mar High

Gm. 9 - 8 a.m. - California vs. Cal Baptist

Gm. 10 - 9:10 a.m. - UC San Diego vs. UC Davis