April 25, 1998

STANFORD, CA - After falling to the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal, 9-5, in the semifinal round of the Western Regional Qualifying Tournament, the California Golden Bears women's water polo team (23-5) next faces No. 7 Hawaii in the third place match, Sunday at 12:45 p.m.

Cal began an early 3-2 lead in the first quarter against Stanford and then added one more goal for a 4-2 lead early in the second quarter. But Stanford bolted back with four goals in the third quarter and two in the fourth as well as with a strong defensive performance of 11 saves by Stanford goalkeeper Heather Crary to seal the 9-5 victory over the Bears. Cal sisters Alisa and Melanie vonHartitzsch helped the Bears with two goals apiece, and Cal junior goalkeeper Evi Schueller tallied eight saves in the match.

Stanford and No. 1 UCLA advance to the championship game, Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

CAL      3 1 1 0 -- 5
Stanford 2 1 4 2 -- 9

Cal: A. vonHartitzsch 2, M. vonHartitzsch 2, Young.
Stanford: Gardner 3, Best 2, Estes 2, Koblik, Keszler.
Goalie Saves: Schueller 8 (Cal), Crary 11 (Stanford).
Records: Cal: 23-5 Stanford: 26-4

Top-ranked and two-time defending national champion UCLA defeated Hawaii 9-1 to advance to the championship game of the 1998 Women's Water Polo Western Regionals, hosted by Stanford at de Guerre Pool. The Bruins will face Stanford, which defeated third-ranked California 9-5 in the other semifinal. Game-by-game notes available on the following pages.

UC San Diego, five-time national champion, had its string of 13 consecutive Collegiate National Championship Tournament appearances snapped today by UC Davis. Hawaii qualified for nationals in just its first season as a varsity sport.

The Western Region, the strongest in the nation, sends seven teams to the Collegiate National Championships where they will join two from the Midwest and three from the East to determine the national champion. Stanford, UCLA, California, Hawaii, San Diego State and USC have already secured a trip to nationals, while UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara will vie for the seventh and final spot.

Day Two Results:

UC Santa Barbara d. San Jose State 9-3
San Diego State d. Pacific 10-5
USC d. Long Beach State 13-3
UC Davis d. UC San Diego 2-1
Hawaii d. Washington 13-3
San Diego State d. UC Santa Barbara 7-4
Stanford d. California 9-5
USC d. UC Davis 6-2
UCLA d. Hawaii 9-1
Pacific d. San Jose State 10-9 (SD)
UC San Diego d. Washington 7-6

SD - Sudden Death (preceded by two 3 minute overtime periods)

Day Three Schedule
11th Place San Jose State vs. Washington 9:00 a.m.
9th Place UC San Diego vs. Pacific 10:15 a.m.
5th Place San Diego State vs. USC 11:30 a.m.
3rd Place California vs. Hawaii 12:45 p.m.
Championship Stanford vs. UCLA 2:00 p.m.
7th Place UC Davis vs. UC Santa Barbara 3:15 p.m.