Nov. 15, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Western Water Polo Association has announced the seeding for the upcoming 2010 WWPA Men's Championships to be held at Sullivan Aquatics Center at Santa Clara University Friday, Nov. 19 - Sunday, Nov. 21. The winner earns the conference's automatic bid to the National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship, which will be held Dec. 4-5 at Cal.

Loyola Marymount University has earned the top seed thanks to a 16-8 overall record and a 13-1 mark against WWPA foes. With a near identical record, UC Davis, at 16-9 overall and 13-1 in the WWPA, has been seeded second. LMU defeated UC Davis, 6-1, in the teams' only meeting at Davis, Calif., on Nov. 5. Both will earn a bye to the quarterfinals.

Rounding out the top half of the seeding is No. 3 UC San Diego (12-11, 8-4), No. 4 Santa Clara (17-14, 7-7) and No. 5 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (17-12, 9-7). Earning the No. 6 seed is Pomona-Pitzer (16-16, 9-8), followed by Air Force (10-17, 5-10) at No. 7, Redlands (18-14, 9-6) at No. 8, Whittier (13-18, 7-10) at No. 9 and Chapman (11-13, 3-9) at No. 10.

In what was one of the most balanced and competitive seasons in recent memory within the WWPA, with seven of the 12 teams at .500 or better, will make for thrilling match-ups in Day One.

It begins on Friday when Air Force takes on Champan at 9 a.m. The winner will then take on No. 2 UC Davis in Game No. 5 at 2:20 p.m. Game Two will feature Redlands facing off against Whittier at 10:20 a.m. The winner of Game No. 2 will face LMU at 3:40 p.m., in Game No. 6.

Game No. 3 will feature with 4-5 game, as Santa Clara faces Claremont at 11:40 a.m. Game No. 4 will feature UC San Diego facing No. 6 Pomona-Pitzer at 1 p.m.

2010 WWPA Men's Championships Seeding
1. LMU (16-8, 13-1)
2. UC Davis (16-9, 13-1)
3. UC San Diego (12-11, 8-4)
4. Santa Clara (17-14, 7-7)
5. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (17-12, 9-7)
6. Pomona-Pitzer (16-16, 9-8)
7. Air Force (10-17, 5-10)
8. Redlands (18-14, 9-6)
9. Whittier (13-18, 7-10)
10. Chapman (11-13, 3-9)

2010 WWPA Men's Championships Schedule
Hosted by Santa Clara • Sullivan Aquatic Center
November 19-21, 2010

Friday, November 19 - Dark Caps vs. White Caps
Game 01: 9:00 a.m. - No. 7 Air Force (10-17) vs. No. 10 Chapman (11-13)
Game 02: 10:20 a.m. - No. 8 Redlands (18-14) vs. No. 9 Whittier (13-18)
Game 03: 11:40 a.m. - No. 4 Santa Clara (17-14) vs. No. 5 Claremont (17-12)
Game 04: 1:00 p.m. - No. 3 UC San Diego (12-11) vs. No. 6 Pomona-Pitzer (16-16)
Game 05: 2:20 p.m. - No. 2 UC Davis (16-9) vs. Winner of Game #1
Game 06: 3:40 p.m. - No. 1 LMU (16-8) vs. Winner of Game #2

Saturday, November 20
Game 07: 9:00 a.m. - Loser Game #3 vs. Loser Game #1
Game 08: 10:20 a.m. - Loser Game #4 vs. Loser Game #2
Game 09: 11:40 a.m. - SEMIFINAL #1 - Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #4
Game 10: 1:00 p.m. - SEMIFINAL #2 - Winner Game #6 vs. Winner Game #3
Game 11: 2:20 p.m. - Winner Game #7 vs. Loser Game #6
Game 12: 3:40 p.m. - Winner Game #8 vs. Loser Game #5

Sunday, November 21
Game 13: 8:00 a.m. - Ninth Place - Loser Game #8 vs. Loser Game #7
Game 14: 9:20 a.m. - Seventh Place - Loser Game #12 vs. Loser Game #11
Game 15: 10:40 a.m. - Fifth Place - Winner Game #11 vs. Winner Game #12
Game 16: 12:00 p.m. - Third Place - Loser Game #9 vs. Loser Game #10
Game 17: 1:30 p.m. - CHAMPIONSHIP - Winner Game #10 vs. Winner Game #9

Winner earns automatic bid to 2010 National Collegiate Men's Water Polo Championship hosted by Cal Dec. 4-5.

- WWPA -