After a disappointing finish last season in the Pac-10 conference, the UCLA women’s rowing team added Beijing Olympic gold medalist Mark Hunter to its coaching staff this summer.

Not even several days of pouring rain, black eyes and facial gashes could keep players from taking the pitch this weekend for the Pac-10 rugby tournament at UCLA.

For the UCLA women’s basketball team, there may have been no better selection for captain than sophomore Erica Tukiainen.

They are always early to practice and among the last to leave. They are a frequently overlooked component of the football team, serving as a link between coaches and players during practice and on game day.

At the Pac-10 women’s basketball media day, the topic of the UCLA freshmen loomed heavily over the minds of coaches and reporters alike.