Dec. 19, 2008

WOODLAND, CALIF. - The 2008 University of California men's water polo team, which finished 19-9 overall this season after capturing NCAA titles in 2006 and 2007, had five players recognized by The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation as members of the 2008 All-Academic Team, it was announced by MPSF executive director Al Beaird.

Juniors Mike Sample (3.26, interdisciplinary studies) and Scott Cruikshank (3.14, interdisciplinary studies), sophomores Brian Dudley (3.42, business administration) and Daniel Orloff (3.26, American studies), and redshirt freshman Charlie Steffens 3.35, undeclared) were all noted by the MPSF for their academic achievements. To be eligible for the MPSF All-Academic Team, an athlete must have a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA, must be at least a sophomore academically, and must have competed in fifty percent or more of a team's matches.

Dudley was this season's leading scorer among the academic honorees, scoring 28 goals with 35 steals, 24 ejections earned and 14 assists. On Nov. 17, he was selected the MPSF Co-Player of the Week after leading the Bears to victories over Long Beach State and UC Irvine, notching the match-winning goal in sudden death overtime at Long Beach State. Next leading scorer among the academic standouts was redshirt freshman Steffens, who scored 18 goals with 25 assists, 20 steals, 10 ejections earned and three field blocks. Sample added 13 goals with 26 assists, 19 steals, 16 ejections earned and four field blocks. Cruikshank had five goals with 18 steals and Orloff chipped in four goals with eight steals.

Sample, Cruikshank, Dudley and Orloff are all repeat MPSF All-Academic recipients from the 2007 season, while Sample, Cruikshank and Dudley were also selected Academic All-Americans by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches in 2007.