University Southern California Trojans
USC Picked To Repeat As MPSF's No. 1
August 22, 2006 | Men's Water Polo
Aug. 22, 2006
As the defending NCAA and MPSF champion, the USC men's water polo team has been picked to lead the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation once again. The Trojans were selected No. 1 in the MPSF Preseason Coaches Poll, edging out California by a single point. Both teams received four first-place votes, but the defending champs came out on top with 58 points in the poll, ahead of the Bears' 57.
The Trojans carry a 19-game winning streak into 2006 after cruising undefeated through MPSF play en route to the MPSF Tournament title and the 2005 NCAA championship, closing out the year with a program-best 26-1 record. USC head coach Jovan Vavic, the 2005 National and MPSF Coach of the Year, has hauled in an eye-popping crop of fresh talent for the coming year in an effort to bolster the Trojan roster as USC goes in pursuit of back-to-back NCAA and MPSF titles. Five incoming athletes traveled overseas during the summer as members of the U.S. Junior National Team, including Senior National Team player J.W. Krumpholz. The Trojans are led this year by three highly respected standout seniors, Juan Delgadillo, Thomas Hale and Pavol Valovic, as well as two more returning starters, Tommy Corcoran and Adam Shilling. Balance and depth will be prominent for the 2006 USC squad, with the cage manned once again by junior NCAA Co-MVP Shilling.
California was the MPSF's No. 2 pick last season as well, but finished the year in fifth place in the MPSF. UCLA weighs in at No. 3 in this year's poll, just three points behind the Bears. 2005 NCAA finalist Stanford has been tabbed No. 4 in the MPSF poll, followed by No. 5 Pepperdine, No. 6 Pacific, No. 7 UC Irvine, No. 8 UC Santa Barbara and No. 9 Long Beach State.
2006 MPSF Water Polo Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team Points 2005 team record: 2005 MPSF finish:No. 1 USC 58 points (4 first-place votes) 8-0 MPSF, 24-1 overall #1 MPSF/NCAA ChampNo. 2 California 57 points (4 first-place votes) 5-3 MPSF, 21-7 overall #5No. 3 UCLA 54 points (1 first-place votes) 5-3 MPSF, 21-8 overall #4No. 4 Stanford 45 points 6-2 MPSF, 19-6 overall #3No. 5 Pepperdine 30 points 3-5 MPSF, 18-11 overall #6No. 6 Pacific 29 points 2-6 MPSF, 19-14 overall #7No. 7 UC Irvine 23 points 6-2 MPSF, 18-12 overall #2No. 8 UC Santa Barbara 16 points 0-8 MPSF, 13-17 overall #9No. 9 Long Beach State 12 points 1-7 MPSF, 17-18 overall #8
