Bruins a Tough Roadblock for Triton Water Polo Team

UC San Diego water polo coach Denny Harper is not conceding anything to third-ranked UCLA Friday night in the first round of the eight-team NCAA tournament at Cal State Long Beach. But Harper realizes the odds of his team upsetting the Bruins are not much better than the Chargers’ chances of making the playoffs this year.

Ninth-ranked UCSD, which does not award athletic scholarships, has lost to the Bruins three times this season, 13-9 at UCLA, 11-9 at UCSD and 15-10 at Cal State Long Beach.

“They are clearly the better team,” Harper said. “It would probably be the biggest upset in NCAA history. It would definitely be David having his day against Goliath.”

Harper said he could hope that the Bruins come into the 6 p.m. game overconfident, but he knows better. UCLA is coached by Gary Baker, who played for Harper at Indio High in 1977.

“I know they don’t want to lose to us,” Harper said. “That would be devastating. I personally don’t see them having a letdown.”

The Bruins (17-9) are the only team to beat top-ranked Cal this season. UCSD will be making its second appearance in the NCAA tournament. The Tritons almost pulled off an upset two years ago in the NCAA, when they lost to third-ranked Stanford, 6-5, in the last 20 seconds.

If UCSD is going to have any chance against the Bruins, Harper said the Tritons will have to play better defense.

“I have been pleased with our offense, but we haven’t executed that well defensively,” he said. “They just have so many weapons.”

The Tritons’ weapons are seniors Greg Goodrich (67 goals) and John Brown (61 goals) and freshman Mike Nalu (65 goals).

Telly Savalas returns: UCSD women’s volleyball coach Doug Dannevik is walking around these days with a Kojak haircut, but he’d feel a lot better about his new hairdo if his team had won the NCAA Division III title. UCSD lost a tough five-set match to Washington University Saturday night in St. Louis for the NCAA Division III championship.

Dannevik bet his team that he would shave his head if they reached the finals. Dannevik’s assistants were forced to shave their mustaches.

Life’s a beach: The USD women’s basketball team might enjoy the tropical climate and warm water of Hawaii this weekend, but the party might end when the Toreras step on the court. USD will open play in the Wahine Classic Friday (noon) against 23rd-ranked Louisiana Tech, a quarterfinalist in the NCAA tournament last year. If USD wins, it will play 14th-ranked Connecticut, an NCAA semifinalist last year, in the second round. Providence, another NCAA quarterfinalist last year, is also in the eight-team field.

Time for tennis: The University of San Diego will host the All-College men’s tennis tournament Monday through Sunday. The tournament, which is open to all local high school and college players, will include doubles and singles divisions.

Meek update: Duke freshman center Erik Meek, 1990 Times basketball player of the year, scored nine points in his college debut. Meek sank four of five field goals, but hit just one of five from the line in the top-ranked Blue Devils’ 103-75 victory over East Carolina Monday.

Ending “The Streak”: Bob Brasher, a former Point Loma High player, did his part in stopping Arizona’s nine-game unbeaten string over archrival Arizona State. Brasher caught five passes for 53 yards and a touchdown in the Sun Devils’ 37-14 victory over Arizona.

Arizona’s decade of domination had become known as “The Streak” throughout Arizona. Brasher put his signature on the ASU victory when he fell backward and sprawled out after scoring the final touchdown on a two-yard reception.

Brasher, who started all 11 games, ended the season as ASU’s second-leading receiver with 22 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns.

Grasso takes MVP: Jennifer Grasso, a graduate of Chula Vista High, was named Most Valuable Player of the recently completed NCAA Division II women’s soccer championships. Grasso, a midfielder for Cal State Dominguez Hills, scored two goals and had an assist in CSDH’s two victories.

Midfielder Jennifer Womack of Clairemont High was named to the all-tournament team for CSDH.