Aug. 25, 2008

Los Angeles, CA (Aug. 25, 2008) - Loyola Marymount, who returns five starters and 11 letterwinners from its team that won the Western Water Polo Association in 2007, earned 12 of the 14 first place votes in the 2008 WWPA Preseason Coaches Poll to be tabbed as the favorite for the upcoming season.

The Lions earned 168 total points out of a maximum of 169 in the poll to be the favorite to repeat their 2007 title, as voted on by the 14 head coaches of the WWPA. UC San Diego earned the other two first place votes and finished with 150 points in the poll to claim second place. UC Davis and Santa Clara round out the top-four with 145 and 136 points, respectively.

Taking fifth place in the poll is Air Force with 122 points, followed by Redlands at 109 and Pomona with 98 points to round out the top half of the league. Claremont finished eighth, followed by Cal Lutheran at ninth. UC Santa Cruz was 10th, followed by Occidental, Whittier, Chapman and La Verne.

Leading the way in the WWPA in 2008 will be a pair of first-team All-WWPA selections in Daniel Garcia of UC San Diego and Mark Milovic of LMU. They are the only two from the first-team returning in 2008. Second-team selections slated to return this season are Andrew Becskehazy of Redlands, Adam Bennett of UC Davis, Steve Donohoe of UC San Diego and Tibor Forai of LMU. Also returning in 2008 is WWPA Newcomer of the Year, goalie Andy Stevens of LMU.

2008 WWPA Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Loyola Marymount - 168 points (12 first place votes)
2. UC San Diego - 150 (2)
3. UC Davis - 145
4. Santa Clara - 136
5. Air Force - 122
6. Redlands - 109
7. Pomona - 98
8. Claremont - 73
9. Cal Lutheran - 68
10. UC Santa Cruz - 60
11. Occidental - 50
12. Whittier - 44
13. Chapman - 36
14. La Verne - 15