Nov. 17, 2008

Courtesy of Loyola Marymount Athletics

Los Angeles, CA - Loyola Marymount, who finished the 2008 regular season with a perfect 8-0 mark against conference opponents, has been tabbed the top seed for the upcoming Western Water Polo Association Men's Water Polo Championship hosted by the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Friday, Nov. 21 - Sunday, Nov. 23. The Lions finished the season 17-9 overall and have been ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation this season to earn the No. 1 seed.

Following LMU will be No. 2 UC San Diego, No. 3 UC Davis, No. 4 Redlands, No. 5 Sana Clara, No. 6 Air Force, No. 7 Claremont, No. 8 Pomona-Pitzer, No. 9 Chapman and No. 10 UC Santa Cruz.

Following UC Davis will be No. 2 Santa Clara, No. 3 Loyola Marymount, No. 4 UC San Diego, No. 5 Air Force, No. 6 Redlands, No. 7 Pomona-Pitzer, No. 8 UC Santa Cruz and No. 9 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Action will begin on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Matt. M. Axelrood Pool on the campus of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

The Lions will face off against the winner of Game No. 2 which will put the two-time defending SCIAC champion and No. 8 seed Pomona-Pitzer against No. 9 seed Chapman. Pomona-Pitzer finished the season 12-18 overall and 11-6 in WWPA action, while Chapman went 14-13 overall and 7-10 against WWPA foes. They will play at 9:45 a.m. and the winner will take on the Lions in Game No. 6 at 4:45 p.m.

UC San Diego, who finished the season 18-9 overall and 6-3 in the WWPA, will take on the winner of Game No. 1 at 3:00 p.m. The first game of the tournament will have No. 7 and host Claremont (8-20, 7-10) taking on No. 10 UC Santa Cruz (1-19, 0-13) at 8 a.m.

Game No. 3 of the tournament will take place at 11:30 a.m. and will feature No. 4 seed Redlands taking on No. 5 seed Santa Clara. Redlands finished the regular season with the WWPA's best record, going 26-8 overall and 17-3 in the WWPA. They will take on a Santa Clara team that finished 15-12 overall and 9-5 in the WWPA. Both have been ranked in the top-20 all year.

No. 3 UC Davis will take on No. 6 Air Force in Game 4 at 1:15 p.m. UC Davis finished the season 11-14 overall and 8-4 in the WWPA, while AFA went 15-13 and 10-5.