When faced with the chance to take a year off from school to train alongside the United States women’s senior national water polo team, a pipeline to the Olympics, goalkeeper Sami Hill jumped at the opportunity.

Repetition: before the denouement of this long season, that is what UCLA women’s water polo will depend on to tie up loose ends and taper workouts before NCAAs.

Becca Dorst returned to the pool for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament this past weekend – and not a moment too soon.
With the UCLA women’s water polo team excited at the prospect of NCAA Championships just around the corner, the junior utility is glad to be back and playing with her No.

If UCLA women’s water polo learned anything from Friday’s 11-6 loss to USC, it’s that work needs to be done and that, luckily, the team has an appetite for improvement.

A loss to USC, a loss on Senior Day and a loss in the last conference game before the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament would each be reason for frustration from the women’s water polo team.

Treading water may be integral to water polo, but the UCLA women are using this week’s practices to send a strong “don’t tread on me” message to USC.

There were only 20 seconds left in Friday’s game, but it was just enough time for UCLA goalkeeper Sami Hill to send the ball on a golden, across-the-pool arch straight into Loyola Marymount’s cage.

As the women’s water polo team wrapped up practice on Tuesday, its focused plays and high-energy swims sent a clear message: The team was ready for business.

Illnesses slowed junior Kathryn Murphy down earlier in the season, but she’s bounced back just in time for the Pac-12 Championships. Now, she said, all she needs is some “crazy” music and a new pair of bright-colored Nikes and she’ll be ready to race.

Shoe-squeaks pierced the silence of the empty Pauley Pavilion, and the single row of courtside fans squeaked almost as loudly. The ball bounced up and down, across the court, but the heads of five-or-so onlookers – seated far up – didn’t do much bouncing.