Women's Water Polo Preseason Top 10 Poll:
courtesy of the Community College Water Polo Poll & Newsletter *

Others: Ventura, 23; Fullerton, 20; Palomar, 12; Foothill, 8; Saddleback & Cypress, 7; Southwestern, 6; LA Valley & American River, 5; Modesto, Grossmont &, El Camino, 3; West Valley & SJ Delta, 1.

ORANGE COAST STILL ON TOP, BUT LONG
BEACH IS THE CHIC PICK FOR #1

For the past five years it has been pretty simple- pick Golden West No. 1 and then fill in the rest. Well, last year Orange Coast upset that program with an undefeated championship season that halted the Rustlers' four-year stranglehold on No. 1. If the pollsters have their way, the Pirates' stay on top may be short lived. Orange Coast earned only five of 13 first place votes, yet still had enough pull to stay in the top spot with 138 points, just ahead of the current pollster's darlings, Long Beach. The Vikings' 133 points placed them in second place coming off a fifth place finish at the 2002 State Championships. They led the poll with seven first-place votes, but could not overtake the Pirates.

Sierra placed fourth at last year's championships, but earned enough votes to enter the season claiming to be the top team in the North. The Wolverines earned one more point than 2001 state runner-up Riverside, but neither team garnered a first place vote on a single ballot. That is something that No. 5 Merced did do, with one first place vote, on its way into the 2002 season. The Blue Devils were the only team to threaten Orange Coast's run to the top last year, with a 5-4 loss in the state semifinals, and appear to be ready improve on their third place finish at last year's state championships.

Golden West is regrouping from last year after failing to defend its
four-year run at the top or to even make the state tournament. They
have a comfortable 25-point lead in the polls over Mt San Antonio, which knocked them out of the playoffs last year, and will continue to be a top contender in 2002. The Mounties lost a lot of talent from 2001, but should have enough talent and playoff magic to make it back to the state finals in 2002.

San Diego Mesa, Diablo Valley, and Cuesta round out the Top 10. Mesa and Cuesta are expected to be the top teams in their respective conferences, but appear to be missing the firepower to challenge for the top spots in Southern California. Diablo Valley has slipped in the polls in the North, but remains a potent program capable of taking the NorCal title from frontrunners Sierra and Merced.

* Information supplied by Jerry Hannula of the Community College Water Polo Poll & Newsletter. For subscription information, please call (949) 582-4490 or write to: jhannula@saddleback.edu