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W. water polo led by Payne, Natcher in season-opening tournament

By Daily Bruin Staff

Feb. 15, 1996 9:00 p.m.

W. water polo led by Payne, Natcher in season-opening
tournament

By Mark Dittmer

Daily Bruin Contributor

The UCLA women’s water polo season starts today as the Bruins
play USC to kick off the UC San Diego Tournament this weekend. They
hope to return from San Diego on Sunday with a better idea of what
kind of team they will be, and perhaps with a few wins as well.

"I’m curious to see how we’re going to play," UCLA head coach
Guy Baker said, with good reason. Five of this year’s seven
starters are freshmen, and they have never played a match together
as a team.

But this very young team is also potentially very good, good
enough to earn the preseason No. 1 ranking. The two nonfreshman
starters were both All-Americans last year on a UCLA team that
finished fifth in the country in its first year of existence.
Still, Baker has some reservations about the high ranking .

"I think it’s too early to be seeded No. 1," he said.

Yet the team’s talent does make a good argument for a high
ranking. The proof starts with goalie Nicholle Payne and driver
Stephanie Natcher. The two were freshmen when they starred for UCLA
last year; this year they will play the role of seasoned
veterans.

The UCLA freshmen might cause even more problems for opponents.
Both Catherine von Schwarz and Coralie Simmons play for the U.S.
National Team. Freshmen Mandy McAloon, Amanda Gall and Jennifer
McFerrin fill out the starting lineup.

Should the starters need a breather, UCLA can substitute all of
its top goal-scorers from last year. Jenn Cady, second on last
year’s team in goals scored, leads the parade of sophomores that
can help off the deck, which includes Devon Brewer, Paige Erickson,
Jessica Nelson and Heather Wright. Junior Molly Barnes also returns
from last year.

"We’re taking 16 players down there, and eight are brand-new
freshmen, so it’ll be a chance to see where we are," Baker
said.

The UCSD tournament brings together eight teams from up and down
the West Coast. On Saturday, the Bruins will go up against
tournament host UCSD followed by UC Davis. Sunday’s opponent will
be decided by Friday’s and Saturday’s outcomes.Comments to
[email protected]

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