Jan. 18, 2008

WOODLAND, Calif. -

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UCLA took the top spot in the 2008 MPSF preseason women's water polo coaches' poll with 132 points, and 11 first-place votes. The Bruins have won three straight national championships and return some major scoring threats in Jilian Kraus, Katie Rulon, and Courtney Matthewson.

Last year's third-place NCAA Tourney finisher USC came in second with 116 points. Junior goalkeeper Whitney Morgan returns. In a third-place tie, California and Stanford totaled 107 points each, with the Bears picking up one first-place vote. The Cardinal won last year's MPSF regular season and was the national runner-up.

Sixth in the conference in '07, the coaches' poll has California as the most improved team of '08. Coming in fifth was Hawaii with 96 points as All-American Kelly Mason returns. San Diego State checked in with 78 points and a sixth-place pick. The Aztecs placed fourth in the '07 NCAA Tournament. San Jose State took seventh with 71 points, and was followed by Arizona State (59), UC Irvine (56), Long Beach State (42), UCSB (34), CS Northridge (27) and Pacific (11). The 2008 season begins Jan. 26-27 for several MPSF teams at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich.