Fullen has right stuff

Water polo is a sport that requires quick reflexes.

For a goalie like UCLA junior Brittany Fullen, that means split-second decisions on stopping a whizzing yellow ball that’s sometimes directed straight at her face.

Fullen, who graduated from Corona del Mar High in 2005, could handle it. She did so for three years for the Sea Kings, helping them to three straight CIF Southern Section division titles.

But college is a different animal, and in women’s water polo the three-time defending national champion Bruins are more like lions — they’re the kings of the jungle.

Since the first NCAA Tournament in 2001, the Bruins have won five of the seven national titles. UCLA has won nine national titles, including four from 1996-2000 before it was an NCAA-sanctioned championship.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Fullen said. “At UCLA, it’s just like a long line of doing really well.”

After two years of sitting on the bench for the Bruins, she was cast into a starting role in the cage this season — and UCLA (30-0) hasn’t skipped a beat. The team ended the regular season top-ranked in the country, it won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title and it’s the top seed for this weekend’s eight-team NCAA Tournament at Stanford.

UCLA plays No. 8-seeded Pomona-Pitzer (17-11) today at 5 p.m. In the goal won’t be Emily Feher, the four-time All-American who graduated after helping UCLA win the three straight national titles. It will be Fullen.

“Brittany is following in the footsteps of possibly the greatest goalie ever to play college water polo,” UCLA Coach Adam Krikorian said. “Emily was a great leader, and Brittany has filled those shoes tremendously well.”

Fullen started eight games in her first two years combined. This year, the second-team All-MPSF selection has started every game and made 219 saves. It’s a mark just six off the UCLA single-season record of 225, set by Nicolle Payne in 1998.

Fullen’s career-high is 15 saves in the final of the UC Irvine Invitational on Feb. 24, an 8-7 victory over Stanford that helped her earn MPSF Player of the Week honors.

Fullen is known as being soft-spoken, which might not seem to work for a goalie. Even at CdM, Coach Aaron Chaney said he could remember her sophomore year in 2003, when she stepped into a starting role. She would later excel, twice earning CIF Southern Section Division II Player of the Year honors (sharing it with teammate Jordan Anae, who now plays for USC, in her senior season). But there were still moments of doubt.

“She was pretty quiet,” Chaney said. “She was extremely nervous her sophomore year. The whole team was returning from the year before, and she was the newcomer. She felt a lot of pressure on her shoulders. We had a lot of one-on-one talks.”

Similarly this season, Fullen said she didn’t feel as nervous when she started facing opposing shooters. She was more nervous at the preseason practices.

“I really cared a lot about what my team thought of me,” she said. “I’m a quiet person if you don’t know me, but once you get to know me, I talk a lot. At first it was really hard, but as I got more confident, [communication] was something I didn’t really think about as much.”

Of course, she has had plenty of talented teammates to help her transition. Fullen took on Feher’s fierce work ethic, Krikorian said.

Seniors Courtney Mathewson and Jillian Kraus have been named MPSF Co-Players of the Year, and both have also helped out the Bruins defense.

“I think our defense is probably our strongest point,” Fullen said. “I personally don’t get shot on a whole lot, because our defense is so good. I think our chemistry in the water is very vital to that. It makes my job really easy.”

She paused for a second.

“Well, not really easy, but easier,” Fullen added with a laugh.

It also helps that her tall 5-foot-10 frame allows her to cover plenty of net. And Krikorian said Fullen is a precise passer, which helps spark the UCLA counterattack.

He was more concerned about that communication aspect, but Fullen has definitely proved up to the task.

“I wasn’t worried, per se,” Krikorian said. “I knew at some point Brittany would be fine, but she’s played lights out since the beginning of the season. I’m very proud of her.”

In three rivalry games this season, there have been two Sea Kings in goal. Jordan’s younger sister, Tumua Anae, followed Fullen in goal for CdM in 2006.

Anae, a first-team All-MPSF selection, is now a sophomore goalie at USC.

The Bruins have defeated the Trojans, seeded No. 3 at NCAAs, three times this year. But two of the games, including an 8-7 victory in the MPSF championship game on April 27, were won by a single goal.

“I’m so proud of [Anae],” Fullen said. “She’s always been an amazing athlete. It’s really fun to play against her, too.”

The two CdM alumni could next play against each other again on Sunday, in the NCAA Tournament championship game.

If the Bruins make it that far, it will be Fullen helping to lead the charge.

“She’s played with so much confidence and composure, and I think that’s been so impressive,” Krikorian said.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.