Jan. 23, 2012

Los Angeles, CA (Jan. 23, 2012) - Loyola Marymount earned six place votes and 62 total points to be picked as the coaches' favorite to win the 2012 Western Water Polo Association champions as selected by 2012 WWPA Preseason Coaches released Monday, Jan. 23.

LMU finished three points better than the Tritons, who earned three first place votes and 59 total points, to be the favorite to earn their ninth WWPA title in 12 years, as voted on by the nine head coaches of the WWPA.

The 2012 season could be an explosive one in the WWPA as 12 WWPA All-Conference selections from 2011 were slated to return to their respective teams. Four of those were first-team selections, including 2011 WWPA Player of the Year Kimberly Benedetti and teammate Casey Flacks from LMU, Megan Pezzolla from CSU Bakersfield and Claire Pierce from Cal State East Bay. UC San Diego's Kirsten Bates, who was a second-team All-WWPA selection and a first-team All-Tournament selection, returns after helping the Tritons to the title.

Tabbed to finish third and fourth in this year's poll is Santa Clara and Colorado State. The Broncos, who finished the 2011 season with a 7-4 win to place third in the WWPA championships, earned 47 points. Colorado State, who finished last season in fifth place, earned 40 points in the poll.

Rounding out the 2011 Coaches' poll is Cal State East Bay (38 points), CSU Bakersfield (31 points), Sonoma State (23 points), Cal State Monterey Bay (14 points) and Cal State San Bernardino (10 points).

The 2012 Western Water Polo Women's Championship will be held April 27 - 29 and hosted by UC San Diego at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla. For complete championship information, visit www.TheWWPA.com.

2012 WWPA Women's Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Loyola Marymount - 62 points (6 first place votes)
2. UC San Diego - 59 points (3)
3. Santa Clara - 47 points
4. Colorado State - 40 points
5. Cal State East Bay - 38 points
6. Cal State Bakersfield - 31 points
7. Sonoma State - 23 points
8. Cal State Monterey Bay - 14 points
9. Cal State San Bernardino - 10 points